December 13-15, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022
c. 1840s. 6 - 3/8" closed, 10 - 7/8" fully open. Clip point blade with long sweeping clip, stamped in its center with the words "CAST STEEL" and "IMPERIAL CHINESE" above Chinese characters. Ivory scales carved in high relief on both sides with open mouthed alligator having a curled-up tail and inset glass eyes. Blade is a replacement of the correct style and period showing light use, the scales are stained from age with the reverse being quite dark, 1 pin crack on the reverse, with carry wear and a couple of surface scratches. English made for the American market and with tremendous folk art character, this recently discovered knife is one of only two known specimens. The other example can be seen in the books "A Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife in America" (p.315), "Accouterments V" by James R. Johnson (p.145), and in "Carving out Answers: The Search for the Maker(s) of the Carved Ivory Knives" by Mark Zalesky in the Antique Bowie Journal, 2021 No. 2 (p.22).