Lot 340

English Bowie Knife w/ Spanish Eye & Coffin Handle

Estimate: $2,000 - $2,750

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
The lot features a very unique English Sheffield Bowie knife pattern piece with heavy coffin handle and “Spanish Notch” on the blade. The Spanish Notch or Spanish Eye is a notch or cutout just past the choil of the blade above the ricasso which would work as a stop when in combat. An opponent’s blade or weapon would run down the blade of this knife then get caught up in the notch allowing the user to take command of the fight. The knife shows a typical wide swooshing clip point with false edge back, thick well made spine and bowie knife shaped sharp blade. The blade itself is very similar to the example in Harold L. Peterson’s “American Knives” 1958 book on page 35 figure 37, the W. Butcher Sheffield Dog Bone handle knife from 1836. The handle features an eye shaped brass quillon hand guard with coffin shaped Rosewood handle having a solid brass outside framing which is secured with sixteen pins along with the grips themselves being secured to the tang of the knife with a total of seven nickel siliver like pins and seven brass pins. Both sides of the handle show silver escutcheon plates with one in the shape of a shield and the other in the shape of a banner. The blade has some spotting and color and the brass has handling mellow patina with the silver being oddly bright. The knife is attributed to the shape and design of an English Sheffield coffin bowie knife with its exact manufacture being unknown due to the lack of a marking. Measures overall 14 1/8”L overall with a 10”L blade. The knife was referred to as a "Six Button" knife by the owner and collector.
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