Revised: 3/14/2015

Please Note: The top edge of the clip point was beveled and polished. This exact knife is pictured in a 1975 Gun Report article (page 57, April 1975). We also were shown a photograph of the knife without a scabbard shown in 1970 when owned by Walter J. O’Connor, a noted collector of early Americana.

VERY RARE AND IMPORTANT CIRCA 1830 GUARDLESS COFFIN HANDLED, SILVER MOUNTED AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE.

This exact knife is pictured on page 446 of Norm Flayderman’s Iconic Text The Bowie Knife, though the actual maker of the handful of knives of this pattern unknown. Some literature identifies the maker as the Arkansas blacksmith James Black. Regardless, the state of Arkansas values their “James Black” made Bowie as it is prominently displayed in the State Museum as the finest Bowie knife. Bowie knife collectors know of the importance and the allure of this earliest form of American Bowie knives. There has not been an original example of this maker on the market in many years and Norm never offered this knife for sale and was found in his desk by family recently. Of the numerous James Black stories being the originator of the original Bowie knife, Arkansas Governor A. H. Garland, who claimed personal familiarity with James Black, is the basis of Arkansas Judge William Popes book Early Days in Arkansas…Personal Recollections of an Old Settler 1895. “The Bowie-knife had its origin in as peaceable a manner and purpose as did the fowling-piece of the sportsman. In 1827 or 1828 there came to Washington, Arkansas, from where, I do not know, a man named Black, who was an expert workman in all kinds of metals, being also a gunsmith, who had possessed the secret of tempering steel to a hardness that has not been equaled since. There was then living at Walnut Hills, Lafayette County, a wealthy planter named Reason (Rezin) Bowie, brother of the celebrated James Bowie…On one of his visits to Washington (Reason) called on Black and engaged him to make a hunting knife after a certain pattern of his own designing. Bowie whittled out of the top of cigar box the exact shape of the knife he desired made. He told the smith that he wanted a knife that would disjoint the bones of a bear or deer without gaping or turning the edge of the blade. Black undertook the job and turned out the implement of the hunt which was afterwards known as the Bowie-Knife. The hilt was elaborately ornamented with silver designs. Black’s charge for the work was $10, but Bowie was so pleased with the excellence of the knife he gave the maker $50…I do not hesitate to make the statement that no genuine Bowie knives have ever been made outside of the state of Arkansas, for when Black died, sometime after the late war, his secret for tempering the steel which was the main point of excellence of the Bowie-Knife died with him…” Regardless who made these knives, there are no more then 2 or 3 complete specimens known. PROVENANCE: Rick Mack Collection. Norm Flayderman Estate Collection. CONDITION: 5-1/2″ single edge, clip point is overall bright with polishing and old sharpening. Scattered areas of staining and pitting typical of this maker are the silver plates over the ricasso which are complete, though worn, as are the sheet silver. Edging to dark wood grip. Knife has two silver escutcheon attached with 2 pins on either side. There are four indiscernible initials carved on one escutcheon and some old scratching on one silver bolster. There are 6 silver pins with matching grommets around each escutcheon (one grommet is restored). The silver scabbard is complete with silver soldered drag and silver plated frog button, all sound and solid, with silver patina with numerous small scratches, dents and dings. Belt loop and frog, which attaches to frog button, is torn and come unsewn on one side and the old iron rivet repairs are both broken, one rivet missing. 4-54457 JS7 (20,000-30,000) – Lot 1371

Auction: Firearms - March 2015

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
	1371	$23,000.00	Revised: 3/14/2015 Please Note: The top edge of the clip point was beveled and polished. This exact knife is pictured in a 1975 Gun Report article (page 57, April 1975). We also were shown a photograph of the knife without a scabbard shown in 1970 when owned by Walter J. O’Connor, a noted collector of early Americana. VERY RARE AND IMPORTANT CIRCA 1830 GUARDLESS COFFIN HANDLED, SILVER MOUNTED AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE. This exact knife is pictured on page 446 of Norm Flayderman’s Iconic Text The Bowie Knife, though the actual maker of the handful of knives of this pattern unknown. Some literature identifies the maker as the Arkansas blacksmith James Black. Regardless, the state of Arkansas values their “James Black” made Bowie as it is prominently displayed in the State Museum as the finest Bowie knife. Bowie knife collectors know of the importance and the allure of this earliest form of American Bowie knives. There has not been an original example of this maker on the market in many years and Norm never offered this knife for sale and was found in his desk by family recently. Of the numerous James Black stories being the originator of the original Bowie knife, Arkansas Governor A. H. Garland, who claimed personal familiarity with James Black, is the basis of Arkansas Judge William Popes book Early Days in Arkansas…Personal Recollections of an Old Settler 1895. “The Bowie-knife had its origin in as peaceable a manner and purpose as did the fowling-piece of the sportsman. In 1827 or 1828 there came to Washington, Arkansas, from where, I do not know, a man named Black, who was an expert workman in all kinds of metals, being also a gunsmith, who had possessed the secret of tempering steel to a hardness that has not been equaled since. There was then living at Walnut Hills, Lafayette County, a wealthy planter named Reason (Rezin) Bowie, brother of the celebrated James Bowie…On one of his visits to Washington (Reason) called on Black and engaged him to make a hunting knife after a certain pattern of his own designing. Bowie whittled out of the top of cigar box the exact shape of the knife he desired made. He told the smith that he wanted a knife that would disjoint the bones of a bear or deer without gaping or turning the edge of the blade. Black undertook the job and turned out the implement of the hunt which was afterwards known as the Bowie-Knife. The hilt was elaborately ornamented with silver designs. Black’s charge for the work was $10, but Bowie was so pleased with the excellence of the knife he gave the maker $50…I do not hesitate to make the statement that no genuine Bowie knives have ever been made outside of the state of Arkansas, for when Black died, sometime after the late war, his secret for tempering the steel which was the main point of excellence of the Bowie-Knife died with him…” Regardless who made these knives, there are no more then 2 or 3 complete specimens known. PROVENANCE: Rick Mack Collection. Norm Flayderman Estate Collection. CONDITION: 5-1/2″ single edge, clip point is overall bright with polishing and old sharpening. Scattered areas of staining and pitting typical of this maker are the silver plates over the ricasso which are complete, though worn, as are the sheet silver. Edging to dark wood grip. Knife has two silver escutcheon attached with 2 pins on either side. There are four indiscernible initials carved on one escutcheon and some old scratching on one silver bolster. There are 6 silver pins with matching grommets around each escutcheon (one grommet is restored). The silver scabbard is complete with silver soldered drag and silver plated frog button, all sound and solid, with silver patina with numerous small scratches, dents and dings. Belt loop and frog, which attaches to frog button, is torn and come unsewn on one side and the old iron rivet repairs are both broken, one rivet missing. 4-54457 JS7 (20,000-30,000) – Lot 1371 Auction: Firearms - March 2015 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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VERY RARE AND IMPORTANT CIRCA 1830 GUARDLESS COFFIN HANDLED, SILVER MOUNTED AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE.