The lot features an unusual R&R Middleton Sheffield, England, bowie knife with horse-alligator coffin handle. The half horse half alligator coffin pommel is a design seen almost exclusively on examples by Woodhead & Hartley of 36 Howard Street, Sheffield, England. This example shows a large bowie blade with hand cut vine file work at the back of the spine flowing into a false edge or false grind that extends over three-quarters of the spine and shows a swooping clip tip. The piece has a distinctive quillon hilt of solid brass which tips forward. The piece has a full tang handle with steer horn scale grips being four brass stud held and overall the grip is in a fine coffin design. The pommel coffin end shows a two piece high-relief etched solid brass finish holding the half horse half alligator figure. The blade is nicely stamped “R&R MIDDLETON SHEFFIELD”. The blade has a concave or “v” grind and is sharp. The blade itself has pitting and color across the entire surface with some deeper pitting. The handle brass has a mellow patina’d finish. For a similar example see “American Knives” 1958 by Harold L. Peterson page 44, figure 53, to see the Woodhead & Hartley example with the same coffin shaped horse-alligator design. In fact below the hilt the handles appears incredibly similar. The age and origin of R&R Middleton are not exactly known, with some speculating that the maker was the son of J.E. Middleton, Ron and Roy Middleton. Jesse Edgar Middleton (1872-1960). The knife has the design and bowie shape to have been from the frontier old West days. Measures overall 15”L overall with a 10”L blade and 3 1/8”W hilt. The knife also comes with a leather belt sheath that measures 12"L by 3.5"W.