Page 114 - 4093-BOOK1

LOT 89
Outstanding and Highly Desirable W. & S. Butcher, Sheffield
Bowie Knife with Pearl Grip, Alligator Pommel, and Sheath - As
early as 1819, William Butcher is listed in the Sheffield directories as
manufacturing edged tools from a small manufactory on Eyre Lane. Around
1821-1822, William expanded his business into producing crucible steel,
more commonly known as “wootz steel” or “Damascus steel”, the process
involved combining pig iron with high carbon content with other iron and/
or steel along with various fluxes to produce a higher quality metal. Around
that same time, another firm appeared in the directory called Wade &
Butcher, a partnership between Robert Wade and William’s brother Samuel.
The Wade & Butcher firm was located on Arundel Street, just behind William
Butcher’s block fronting Eyre Lane, and they appear to have produced
primarily razors.
LOT 88
Extraordinary Pair of Henry Deringer Medium Sized Pocket Pistols -A) Henry
Deringer Philadelphia Production Percussion Pocket Pistol - NSN, 45 percussion cal.,
5 3/8 inch bbl., brown finish, checkered walnut stock. Produced circa 1861-1866, these
exceptional pistols are among the highest condition Deringer pocket pistols known.
German silver blade front and notch rear sights, with the distinctive “bronzed” finish on the
barrel, silver bands on the breech with “*P*” on the left flat and “DERINGER/ PHILADELA”
on top. Lock plate is addressed the same as the barrel, with scroll engraving on the lock,
hammer, and tang.
The majority of
the screw heads
are engraved.
Attractive
checkered bird’s
head stock,
furnished in
German silver,
with engraved
tip, escutcheons,
flash plate,
pineapple finial,
trigger guard, reverse plate,
inscription shield and buttplate with patchbox. “2” is stamped on the trigger guard, and a
silver band on the underside of the barrel holds a brass tipped hickory ramrod.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 98% of the highly attractive bronzed barrel finish, showing
some minor handling marks. Fine color is visible on the casehardened parts, slightly dark
overall, with minimal pitting around the nipple. The furniture is excellent, with a few
small dark spots. Excellent stock, with light scratches and pressure dents, strong varnish,
attractive grain and sharp checkering. A thin crack is visible in the head of the hammer,
otherwise mechanically excellent. These
are exceptional examples of the
classic Henry Deringer pocket size
pistols. These magnificent
pistols remain in nearly new
condition and, in our opinion,
may be the best condition
Deringer pocket size pistols
known.
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