This is an impressive, massive hand sword dag knife which has a Buffalo bone handle and is marked Sheffield I & H Sorby which produced items during the circa 1800-1850 period. This exact piece was sold at auction twice, first as a 1830’s Buffalo Lance Blade and second as 1830’s Dag Knife. The blacksmith forged iron blade shows a raised median ridge that runs down the center of the blade on both sides with a double edge blade and double notch cut at the base next to the SHEFFIELD I & H SORBY touch-mark (touchmark, hallmark), seen on other documented pieces. Sorby was the hallmark of John Sorby & Sons which was acquired by Lockwood Brothers Sheffield, England in 1844. Lockwood Bros. still operated out of their Arundel Street Factory but created the I&H Sorby items out of their Spital Hill Works factory. The Sorby touch-mark would be found on trade knives and dag knives which were exported to the American frontiersman and traded to the Native American Indians where they would alter the pieces to their liking. For other Sorby marked blades see the Blackfoot Sorby Dag sold in 2019 by Cowan's / Hindman for $15,360 (w/ bp) and the Cree Sorby Dag Knife sold by our company in 2018 for $12,300 (w/ bp). All bone handle dag knives are scarce, especially of this size with silver and the Sorby mark. The piece shows a thick, large Great American Bison Buffalo bone handle with deep rich yellow to black / brown patina having the blade cut into the top of the bone and pined to the hidden tang. There is an old crack in the handle which exposed the bone beneath with the same deep yellow patina. Truly a fantastic, large piece with heavy blade and beautiful handle from a large Native American collection in Northern California. The piece has been noted several times as being early but the age of the piece is unknown, please review for your own representation of age and origin. Measures overall 18 7/8”L with the blade being 12 3/8”L by 2 1/16”W blade. Total weight of 1 lbs 2 oz.