June 12-13, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/12/2019
Wide and heavy 5/32" thick blade with filework on spine accompanied by etching and multiple blade stamps across the blade's face, featuring an eagle with a banner reading "California Knife" and the words "Geo. Wostenholm & Son Sole Manufacturers of the Celebrated IXL Cutlery" and "The Americans Pride, Equal rights Equal laws & Equal justice to all". Stamps include G WOSTENHOLM & SON, WASHINGTON WORKS, a spread winged eagle, I*XL, and THE REAL IXL KNIFE in a riband, and on the ricasso G WOSTENHOLM & SON, WASHINGTON WORKS, NONE ARE GENUINE BUT THOSE MARKED I*XL. Thick full tang with beautifully textured stag scales on milled brass liners, heavy nickel silver guard and escutcheon on obverse. Original sheath encased in leather over-sheath. c. 1850s, a very rare and desirable authentic example of a type often counterfeited. CONDITION: Blade appears unsharpened, with a couple areas of pitting and a fairly large chip on the blade edge towards ricasso, two cracks and a small chip from handle scales. Guard is slightly bent.