IDENTIFIED HASSAM BROS. LINCOLN COUNTY WAR PRESENTATION SMALL BOWIE KNIFE WITH SHEATH.

IDENTIFIED HASSAM BROS. LINCOLN COUNTY WAR PRESENTATION SMALL BOWIE KNIFE WITH SHEATH. Knife has a 6-1/8″ flat ground blade with short back grind and an offset “S” curved iron handguard with rnd quillions, a German silver ferrule and a small crown stag handle with German silver pommel cap. Overall length is 10-1/4″. Left side of blade is stamped “HASSAM BRO’S / BOSTON”. Accompanied by its orig black leather sheath with German silver throat & tip. Throat has a frog stud on back side. Front side of throat is engraved in period block letters “J.D. / to / W.M.B.”. These initials are for James J. Dolan and William M. Brady. Dolan & Brady were both participants in the famous Lincoln County, New Mexico War. William Brady was born in Ireland in 1829 and emigrated to United States in 1851, joining the Army in July of that year. His unit was transferred to San Antonio and then further west to the New Mexico line. In 1852 he was promoted to Sergeant and in 1856 re-enlisted for five additional years. In August of 1856 his unit was transferred to Fort Craig, New Mexico and when he was unable to secure an officer’s commission he did not re-enlist and was discharged in March 1861. Later that year he enlisted in the New Mexico Volunteers as a 1st Lt. and participated in the Civil War battle at Glorieta Pass defeating the Confederates. Later he served as Commander of Fort Stanton & Fort Sumner, New Mexico, along with other postings in New Mexico. During this time he was promoted to Capt. & then brevetted to Maj, prior to his discharge in Oct. 1866. After his discharge he returned to Fort Stanton and in 1869 was elected Sheriff of Lincoln County. In 1871 he became the first elected representative from Lincoln County to serve in the New Mexico Territorial House of Representatives. In Fall of 1876 he was again elected Sheriff and on April 1, 1878 was ambushed on streets of Lincoln by Billy the Kid and several other members of the Tunstall-McSween Gang and shot dead. While the above information is factual, which eventually led to the Army moving in to restore order in Lincoln County, the war resulted in deaths of not only Sheriff Brady but many others including Billy the Kid, Tunstall & McSween. During all this Sheriff Brady was apparently closely acquainted with James J. Dolan who had bought out the largest merchant in Lincoln, L.G. Murphy. These were all Irishmen and former soldiers who had settled in the area after being discharged from Army. No direct presentation of the knife from Dolan to Brady has been established but it is certainly reasonable to assume that having served in the military together and with Dolan being a prominent merchant in Lincoln that they were well acquainted and Dolan would likely have given such a present to his sheriff out of friendship or for some special favor. The Lincoln County War, in which William Brady played a prominent part, is a wild & exciting chapter in settlement of the West. What part this knife may have played will likely never be known but there is always the possibility that something may turn up in the future. Accompanied by the book Sheriff William Brady, Tragic Hero of the Lincoln County War, Lavash. Also accompanied by several photographs & copies of photographs from Lincoln, New Mexico, one of which is a copy of a photograph of Robert Brady, son of Sheriff William Brady. Caption on photograph states that Robert Brady was with his father when he was “shot down” and himself was hit in the mouth by a bullet. CONDITION: Knife shows light wear and sharpening having been lightly cleaned with some fine pitting remaining, predominately on left side. Maker’s mark is clear. Sheath is very fine, retaining about 80% of its orig black finish being slightly flexed around tip. Presentation is completely crisp & clear. 4-32628 JR426 (5,000-10,000)

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
	2341	$5,400.00	IDENTIFIED HASSAM BROS. LINCOLN COUNTY WAR PRESENTATION SMALL BOWIE KNIFE WITH SHEATH. Knife has a 6-1/8″ flat ground blade with short back grind and an offset “S” curved iron handguard with rnd quillions, a German silver ferrule and a small crown stag handle with German silver pommel cap. Overall length is 10-1/4″. Left side of blade is stamped “HASSAM BRO’S / BOSTON”. Accompanied by its orig black leather sheath with German silver throat & tip. Throat has a frog stud on back side. Front side of throat is engraved in period block letters “J.D. / to / W.M.B.”. These initials are for James J. Dolan and William M. Brady. Dolan & Brady were both participants in the famous Lincoln County, New Mexico War. William Brady was born in Ireland in 1829 and emigrated to United States in 1851, joining the Army in July of that year. His unit was transferred to San Antonio and then further west to the New Mexico line. In 1852 he was promoted to Sergeant and in 1856 re-enlisted for five additional years. In August of 1856 his unit was transferred to Fort Craig, New Mexico and when he was unable to secure an officer’s commission he did not re-enlist and was discharged in March 1861. Later that year he enlisted in the New Mexico Volunteers as a 1st Lt. and participated in the Civil War battle at Glorieta Pass defeating the Confederates. Later he served as Commander of Fort Stanton & Fort Sumner, New Mexico, along with other postings in New Mexico. During this time he was promoted to Capt. & then brevetted to Maj, prior to his discharge in Oct. 1866. After his discharge he returned to Fort Stanton and in 1869 was elected Sheriff of Lincoln County. In 1871 he became the first elected representative from Lincoln County to serve in the New Mexico Territorial House of Representatives. In Fall of 1876 he was again elected Sheriff and on April 1, 1878 was ambushed on streets of Lincoln by Billy the Kid and several other members of the Tunstall-McSween Gang and shot dead. While the above information is factual, which eventually led to the Army moving in to restore order in Lincoln County, the war resulted in deaths of not only Sheriff Brady but many others including Billy the Kid, Tunstall & McSween. During all this Sheriff Brady was apparently closely acquainted with James J. Dolan who had bought out the largest merchant in Lincoln, L.G. Murphy. These were all Irishmen and former soldiers who had settled in the area after being discharged from Army. No direct presentation of the knife from Dolan to Brady has been established but it is certainly reasonable to assume that having served in the military together and with Dolan being a prominent merchant in Lincoln that they were well acquainted and Dolan would likely have given such a present to his sheriff out of friendship or for some special favor. The Lincoln County War, in which William Brady played a prominent part, is a wild & exciting chapter in settlement of the West. What part this knife may have played will likely never be known but there is always the possibility that something may turn up in the future. Accompanied by the book Sheriff William Brady, Tragic Hero of the Lincoln County War, Lavash. Also accompanied by several photographs & copies of photographs from Lincoln, New Mexico, one of which is a copy of a photograph of Robert Brady, son of Sheriff William Brady. Caption on photograph states that Robert Brady was with his father when he was “shot down” and himself was hit in the mouth by a bullet. CONDITION: Knife shows light wear and sharpening having been lightly cleaned with some fine pitting remaining, predominately on left side. Maker’s mark is clear. Sheath is very fine, retaining about 80% of its orig black finish being slightly flexed around tip. Presentation is completely crisp & clear. 4-32628 JR426 (5,000-10,000) 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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