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EXCEPTIONAL & EXTRAORDINARY EXHIBITION QUALITY GE

Currency:USD Category:Home & Garden Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
EXCEPTIONAL & EXTRAORDINARY EXHIBITION QUALITY GE
EXCEPTIONAL & EXTRAORDINARY EXHIBITION QUALITY GEORGE WOSTENHOLM & SONS LARGE BOWIE KNIFE. This wonderful knife is 17-1/2" overall with an 11-3/4" spear point blade that has a 5-7/8" back grind. Blade is 1-5/8" at the ricasso and has a 1/2" wide full length fuller on each side. Left side is decorated with dbl cornucopia, one having fruits, nuts & grains and the other flowers, with both ends having foliate arabesque patterns with leaves on one end and leaves & acorns on the other end. Top left side of the blade is marked "GEO WOSTENHOLM & SONS WASHINGTON WORKS / CELEBRATED HUNTING KNIFE SHEFFIELD" around a large "I*XL". It has tortoise shell covered wooden grip panels with serrated 2-pc ferrule and large left & right hand leaf pattern quillion hand guard with serrated edge center. Accompanied by its orig, red leather, gold embossed sheath with German silver throat & tip. Also accompanying is a copy of p. 22 of "I*XL MEANS I EXCEL" by W. Williamson. This exact knife appears as item 9 and he states that it was probably made for exhibition display. It was most likely the 1852 New York City Expo at the Crystal Palace. This is one of Wostenholm's finest examples of the Gold Rush Period. CONDITION: Very fine. Blade cleaned a long time ago but retains its complete orig full shape. Hand guard is slightly loose and the left tortoise shell panel has a couple of cracks. Right panel has a crack, is missing a small chip near the ferrule & a large piece at the pommel end. Sheath was broken through the middle & is now repaired. Throat is missing the two screws & stud with a few minor dents. Tip has a dent on each side, otherwise colors are bright with moderate wear and a stain near the top. Altogether a most rare Bowie in fine condition that would make a fine addition to anyone's collection. 4-56976 JR633 (20,000-30,000)