OUTSTANDING WOODHEAD & HARTLEY EARLY BOWIE KNIFE.

OUTSTANDING WOODHEAD & HARTLEY EARLY BOWIE KNIFE. Fine English Bowie from 1840’s-1850’s period with 8-15/16″ clip point blade, 1-1/2″ at ricasso with a 7-1/4″ back grind. It has a 3/16″ thick pointed oval German silver handguard with a coffin shaped handle of cast German silver that has stylized alligator pommel with ivory scales pinned with four German silver rivets and an elongated German silver shield on one side. Left ricasso is marked “WOODHEAD & HARTLEY / 36 HOWARD STREET / SHEFFIELD”. This knife is identical in shape but slightly larger than one pictured on p. 89 of the book Bowie Knives of the Ben Palmer Collection, Palmer, Moran & Phillips with identical handle as another pictured on p. 245 of the book The Antique Bowie Knife Book, Adams, Voyles & Moss. Page 257 of the same book has a nearly identical knife but with different pommel that differs only with the more common half horse-half alligator motif but with identical blade shape, ricasso marking & ivory scales. These knives were a staple of the American Frontier prior to Civil War made famous by the intrepid James & Rezin Bowie. No self respecting frontiersman, cowboy or gentleman of that era would be caught without his knife. Being without one’s knife could cost someone his life. This knife, given its fancy & probably costly appearance, mostly likely would have belonged to someone of importance and/or of reasonable means. Accompanied by a homemade 1-pc leather sheath with spacer in sewn back edge. CONDITION: Fine. Shows some sharpening with a few small chips in cutting edge and light to moderate pitting, moreso on right side. Left side grip panel is cracked, otherwise handle is very fine with beautiful gold to orange age patina. Sheath shows heavy wear and is dark & stiff. 4-31233 JR419 (17,500-27,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1350	$18,400.00	OUTSTANDING WOODHEAD & HARTLEY EARLY BOWIE KNIFE. Fine English Bowie from 1840’s-1850’s period with 8-15/16″ clip point blade, 1-1/2″ at ricasso with a 7-1/4″ back grind. It has a 3/16″ thick pointed oval German silver handguard with a coffin shaped handle of cast German silver that has stylized alligator pommel with ivory scales pinned with four German silver rivets and an elongated German silver shield on one side. Left ricasso is marked “WOODHEAD & HARTLEY / 36 HOWARD STREET / SHEFFIELD”. This knife is identical in shape but slightly larger than one pictured on p. 89 of the book Bowie Knives of the Ben Palmer Collection, Palmer, Moran & Phillips with identical handle as another pictured on p. 245 of the book The Antique Bowie Knife Book, Adams, Voyles & Moss. Page 257 of the same book has a nearly identical knife but with different pommel that differs only with the more common half horse-half alligator motif but with identical blade shape, ricasso marking & ivory scales. These knives were a staple of the American Frontier prior to Civil War made famous by the intrepid James & Rezin Bowie. No self respecting frontiersman, cowboy or gentleman of that era would be caught without his knife. Being without one’s knife could cost someone his life. This knife, given its fancy & probably costly appearance, mostly likely would have belonged to someone of importance and/or of reasonable means. Accompanied by a homemade 1-pc leather sheath with spacer in sewn back edge. CONDITION: Fine. Shows some sharpening with a few small chips in cutting edge and light to moderate pitting, moreso on right side. Left side grip panel is cracked, otherwise handle is very fine with beautiful gold to orange age patina. Sheath shows heavy wear and is dark & stiff. 4-31233 JR419 (17,500-27,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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