3116 EXEMPLARY PRADEL, NEW ORLEANS BOWIE KNIFE.

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This item SOLD at 2022 May 08 @ 11:53UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 15,000.00 USD
Estimated at 30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD

This is the finest & most famous New Orleans bowie knife extant. This bowie is pictured on the cover of Phil Bazer’s text “New Orleans Cutlers”. Knife is also photographed in detail on page 162 & 163. 13 1/4" Overall. 8 1/2" Wide clip point blade stamped “PRADEL, A / NEW ORLEANS”. Checkered ebony grip. 2 1/4" Blued oval steel crossguard. German silver ferrule & sheath mounts. Blaise Pradel, best known for antebellum surgical instruments, also made several unique Confederate swords & 2 marked bowie knives are known including this, the finest one. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of “New Orleans Cutlers” by Phil Bazer. CONDITION: fine overall. Blade is gray/bright. Crisp markings. Salt & pepper pitting. Handle is equally fine w/ crisp diamond point crosshatching. Sheath is sound w/ scuffing & chipping to leather body. German silver mounts have scattered cosmetic blemishes. Distinctive iron tip. Smooth patina. Knife ranks among the handful of the finest antebellum / Civil War bowies known. PROVENANCE: Collection of John Montague. (02-16495/JS). $30,000-50,000.