October 25, 2023 The Paul Friedrich Collection of Firearms & Gold Rush
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/25/2023
Large sized, American retailed, Sheffield made Bowie. This knife was sold by William Jackson & Co., Sheaf Iron Works and marketed as their "Rio Grande Camp Knife". Widely popular during the Civil War, this style of knife by this maker was used in the assassination attempt on Secretary of State William Seward by Lewis Payne on the night of April 14, 1865. George Foster Robinson, Sergeant of Co. B of the 8th Regiment of Maine Infantry, was detailed as an attending nurse to Seward, who had been injured in a riding accident. When Lewis Payne (a.k.a. Powell) burst into the bedroom of the Secretary of State armed with a large Bowie knife, Robinson tackled and disarmed the assassin, thus successfully thwarting the assassination attempt. The knife was used as evidence in the trial of conspirators. After the trial, Robinson asked the War Department to give him the knife as a souvenir, which he received from the War Department in 1866 in recognition of his valor. This example measures 14" overall with a 9" blade. Ricasso is marked "Wm. JACKSON & CO. SHEAF/ ISLAND WORKS, SHEFFIELD". German silver cross guard with pinned stag handle. Crossguard is owner stamped in small letters on one side: "F.E. Becker". CONDITION: Blade is overall grey-to-black mossing. Edges have been sharpened. Handle and cross have nice patinated look. Leather scabbard with several old repairs.