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LOT 112
Exceptional Woodhead & Hartley Sheffield Etched Blade Half
Horse, Half Alligator “American Bowie Knife” with Pearl Grips
and Scabbard - Manufactured c. 1841-1849 by Woodhead & Hartley of Sheffield, England. Many of the knives manufactured by the firm, including this example, displayed patriotic American themes in an attempt to tap into the seemingly endless appetite for large knives in the booming American market. It measures 13 3/8 inches overall, with a 9 inch clip point blade with a long false edge and etched on the left with an American eagle and patriotic slogans including: “THE UNITED STATES, THE LAND
OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE/PROTECTED BY HER NOBLE AND BRAVE VOLUNTEERS” and “CALIFORNIA./GOLD AT THE DIGGINGS.” The left ricasso is marked with “WOODHEAD & HARTLEY/36 HOWARD STREET/ SHEFFIELD”. It is fitted with an elliptical German silver guard and coffin shaped pommel with a relief half horse, half alligator on each side. The grip scales are smooth pearl with a blank German silver escutcheon on the left. Includes a leather wrapped scabbard with gilt floral tooling and German silver fitting.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, the blade has a clearly legible acid etched panel scene, is mostly bright with some scattered patches of grey surface oxidation, a few small scattered patches of light surface oxidation. The German silver show an attractive lightly aged patina and the grip scales are very fine with a couple light chips absent. The scabbard is fine with most of the gilt remaining, moderate wear, and the tip fitting absent. Provenance: The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
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