RARE ROSE BOWIE KNIFE.

RARE ROSE BOWIE KNIFE. Fine Bowie by a rare maker with 7-3/4″ clip point blade, 1-1/8″ at ricasso and 1/4″ thick on spine. It has short ball quillions on handguard with a coffin shaped handle of rosewood and German silver flat sided ferrule with a German silver scallop shell shaped pommel cast with radiating rays on each side. The handle is rectangular in cross section with concave edges and eight German silver tacks on each side with rectangular German silver plates on each side, one is 2″ long and the other 1-1/2″ long secured with German silver tacks at each end. The short panel is amateur engraved “W.E.” Accompanied by its orig black leather sheath with German silver tip & throat. The tip & throat have zigzag border engraving and it they have scalloped edges. The right side of throat has the same engraved initial “W / 86”. Page 79 of The Antique Bowie Knife Book, Adams, Voyles & Moss, pictures a nearly identical Rose Bowie with the same shaped handle with a nearly identical pommel cap and handguard. Another Rose Bowie is pictured on p. 336 of The Bowie Knife, Flayderman. This knife again is very similar with a nearly identical shaped handle and pommel cap with slightly different handguard & ferrule. There are a number of other Rose Bowies pictured in these books and all have a common theme of a shell pattern pommel cap and a wide German silver ferrule at the handguard, which in all instances have ball shaped quillions. The primary difference observed on this knife from the ones pictured is the ferrule. The ferrules in the photographed Bowies are all rectangular in shape while this one, being rectangular in shape, has cut corners. Research has disclosed that the likely maker of this and other “ROSE” marked Bowies was Peter Rose, a surgical instrument maker in New York in the 1840’s. CONDITION: The blade is fine and nearly intact with only a slight chip at the tip and shows evidence of having been lightly sharpened. The handguard has pin prick pitting and the handle a couple of grain checks with light nicks & dings and three carved notches on the top edge. The pommel cap also has light nicks & dings. Sheath is moderately crackled on surface with the rear edge partially cut open but retains about 70% orig black finish. Throat is missing the frog stud, otherwise throat & tip are fine with a few minor nicks & scratches. Altogether a very rare knife in fine condition. 4-32972 JR425 (8,000-12,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008

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
	1381	$6,900.00	RARE ROSE BOWIE KNIFE. Fine Bowie by a rare maker with 7-3/4″ clip point blade, 1-1/8″ at ricasso and 1/4″ thick on spine. It has short ball quillions on handguard with a coffin shaped handle of rosewood and German silver flat sided ferrule with a German silver scallop shell shaped pommel cast with radiating rays on each side. The handle is rectangular in cross section with concave edges and eight German silver tacks on each side with rectangular German silver plates on each side, one is 2″ long and the other 1-1/2″ long secured with German silver tacks at each end. The short panel is amateur engraved “W.E.” Accompanied by its orig black leather sheath with German silver tip & throat. The tip & throat have zigzag border engraving and it they have scalloped edges. The right side of throat has the same engraved initial “W / 86”. Page 79 of The Antique Bowie Knife Book, Adams, Voyles & Moss, pictures a nearly identical Rose Bowie with the same shaped handle with a nearly identical pommel cap and handguard. Another Rose Bowie is pictured on p. 336 of The Bowie Knife, Flayderman. This knife again is very similar with a nearly identical shaped handle and pommel cap with slightly different handguard & ferrule. There are a number of other Rose Bowies pictured in these books and all have a common theme of a shell pattern pommel cap and a wide German silver ferrule at the handguard, which in all instances have ball shaped quillions. The primary difference observed on this knife from the ones pictured is the ferrule. The ferrules in the photographed Bowies are all rectangular in shape while this one, being rectangular in shape, has cut corners. Research has disclosed that the likely maker of this and other “ROSE” marked Bowies was Peter Rose, a surgical instrument maker in New York in the 1840’s. CONDITION: The blade is fine and nearly intact with only a slight chip at the tip and shows evidence of having been lightly sharpened. The handguard has pin prick pitting and the handle a couple of grain checks with light nicks & dings and three carved notches on the top edge. The pommel cap also has light nicks & dings. Sheath is moderately crackled on surface with the rear edge partially cut open but retains about 70% orig black finish. Throat is missing the frog stud, otherwise throat & tip are fine with a few minor nicks & scratches. Altogether a very rare knife in fine condition. 4-32972 JR425 (8,000-12,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2008 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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