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

74024

An 'Arkansas Toothpick' Bowie Knife by Butcher C

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
An 'Arkansas Toothpick' Bowie Knife by Butcher C
<B>AN 'ARKANSAS TOOTHPICK' BOWIE KNIFE BY BUTCHER COMPANY OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND WITH A MINT EDGED BLADE, CIRCA 1840 - <BR></B></I>English cutlers, especially those in the premier cutlery city of Sheffield, England capitalized on the legend of Jim Bowie and thought the addition of the moniker 'Arkansas Toothpick' to some of their knives may increase sales. They were right. The name 'Arkansas Toothpick' of course comes from the genesis of the famed Bowie knife from the Arkansas cutler James Black who originally made a knife for Bowie on his way to Texas where he made a last stand defending himself to the death with it at the Alamo in 1836.<BR>This beautiful work of the craftsmen at W. and S. Butcher of Sheffield, England has a highly-etched 7" blade in intricate floral work on the left side. Starting at approximately 2" from the brass crossguard in a cartouche are etched the words 'Arkansas Toothpick' just above the maker's stamp of 'Manufactured by W. & S. Butcher, Sheffield'. The ivory handles are trimmed in brass and are secured by the original seven birds eye pins in the center of which on the left side is attached a small brass plate, not engraved. Both the grips and blade are in excellent condition.<BR>The red Moroccan leather sheath has a scalloped 1" brass throat with a slight nick in the leather just above the missing brass tip. Overall, this is the finest example of a 'Arkansas Toothpick' Bowie knife. A similar to this knife is in the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas.<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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