4163 FINE LARGE AMERICAN POSSIBLY CALIFORNIA ANTEBELLUM

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Nov 02 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
BOWIE, EX-FLAYDERMAN. 17.5" overall, 11.5" clip point blade, 2" wide, .31" thick at ricasso. This massive bowie is polished and cutlered Like a large scalpel with razor edges including the sharpened clip, full tang, 2.5" oval iron cross guard, diagonal fluted rosewood grip panels pin attached. This exact knife and sheath are pictured and described on page 341 of norm Flayderman's monumental text "The Bowie Knife". The sheath is tooled black leather with scalloped 2" tip & throat with braised wire belt loop. There is a nearly identical knife and sheath known with elk slab grips that point to early California manufacture. One California maker who was known to have migrated from Pittsburg in 1840s to San Francisco; Hugh McConnell made early California knives, but none of his early knives are marked. Several characteristics of the two known examples of this big bowie make for the California connections. I wonder where Norm found this one, it was in his collection for a very long time based on on wear & soiling to his old label. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of pages from "The Bowie Knife" and photos of other survivor with Elk slap grips. CONDITION: very good to fine overall, blade retains much of its original Polish and luster with areas of black staining and pitting, grip panels will fit with hand worn patina. Sheath is well fit with light shrinkage, .25" gap between throat and crossguard. PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman family collection. (02-24507/JS). NON-GUN. $2,000-4,000.