LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Collection of Western History #680  / 

74028

A Beautiful Rodgers Bowie Knife With an Ivory Ha

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
A Beautiful Rodgers Bowie Knife With an Ivory Ha
<B>A BEAUTIFUL RODGERS BOWIE KNIFE WITH AN IVORY HANDLE IN THE FORM OF AN ALLIGATOR CIRCA 1840 - USED BY UNCLE BILLY IN THE GOLDFIELDS IN 1849 TRIP TO CALIFORNIA<BR></B></I>This is an extraordinary Bowie knife from the famous James Rodgers knifemakers of Sheffield, England. Stamped 'Rodgers, Celebrated Make, Sheffield' at 1" down the 7" blade, the maker also stamped the rarely found 'Cast Steel Bowie Knife' in an oval at the ricasso of the 1" wide blade. The most incredible part of the knife is the elaborately carved 4 1/2" ivory grip made into the form of an alligator. The animal has an upturned tail at the base and open mouth gripping the tulip-shaped brass crossguard which terminates in a fleur de lis. The craftsman at Rodgers who made this knife even added mother-of-pearl eyes to the alligator which are intact. The handle has an approximately 1" surface crack just behind the alligator's mouth on the right side. The red Moroccan leather scabbard still has evidence of gold tool work and has minor flaking to the leather and a slight buckle at 1" above the 1 1/2" brass tip. The 3/4" block-shaped brass throat has the original brass frog intact. Measuring just over 12" overall, this knife is an extremely rare artifact from a noted knifemaker. A handwritten period note found inside the sheath reads as follows: <I>"Bowie knife made in Sheffield England and used by Uncle Billy in his 1849 trip to California Goldfields"</B></I>. One of only three known to exist.<I> From The William Turner Collection.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Bats, Clubs, Sticks, Swords, Rif (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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