June 12-13, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor, & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/12/2019
Attractive bowie knife with clip point blade, faintly etched "Gold Seeker's Knife" with a spread winged eagle, "Palo Alto", and more. The S-guard abuts a coffin shaped nickel silver frame with reclining lion pommels and mother of pearl scales, with an escutcheon on the obverse. Original moroccan leather sheath with nickel silver tip and throat. c.1849-early 1850s. Thomas Tillotson was active from the 1840s through the 1850s, retiring in about 1861. His firm produced many bowies for the American market and is particularly known for knives with Gold Rush etchings. CONDITION: Blade has been sharpened and used but retains most of its original shape, sharpening scratches obscure perhaps 50% of the etched area. The guard has been reshaped a little on its upper half, and the mother of pearl scales are missing a chip on the reverse and have some minor flaws.