Description
Samuel Wragg Sheaf Island Works Sheffield Bowie knife, blade etched CAMP KNIFE; “shield” inlay rosewood handle, leather sheath; circa 1840th. Rare antique Bowie type in great overall condition, considering the age.
Scarce Sheffield-made 1840th-1850th hunting/fighting Bowie with etched blade and a fancy rosewood handle. Made by Samuel C. Wragg of Sheaf Island Works in Sheffield, England. Samuel Wragg Bowies are pretty hard-to-find, this type is rare in any shape or form nowadays. Ricasso is sharply stamped S.C. WRAGG / SHEAF ISLAND / WORKS / SHEFFIELD on one side. At one point the blade was finely etched CAMP KNIFE inside the figural and floral scrolls on one side. The etching is mostly gone but parts of it are still visible under the right angle. Starting mid-1840th lot of Sheffield cutlery makers started coming up with American-sounding names and slogans in order to capitalize on the growing American market; this marketing trick worked and Sheffield-made knives became quite popular in the States. This Bowie style was quite popular in the States during the Civil War, as evident from contemporary photos of Union and Confederate soldiers posing with their Bowies and Sheffield-made knives and daggers of all types and sizes became an inseparable part of the American history.
This attractive Hunting Bowie is about 13-1/4″ / 33.7 cm overall; clip-point blade is about 8-5/8″ / 22 cm long. The blade is very sharp still; the tip is intact. Fancy two-color rosewood handle is secure with a bronze lug-nut on the pommel. German silver handguard, pins and a large “shield” inlay on one side; all parts are tight with no play. A hairline wood crack under the guard on one side is noted for accuracy; not a major issue. The contemporary sheath is probably not original to the knife but it is certainly antique. The leather is a bit stiff and dry but all original stitching is intact; the sheath is in very good overall condition.
Overall, this fine Samuel Wragg Sheaf Island Works Sheffield Bowie knife in great condition, considering the age. Don’t miss your chance to add vintage and hard-to-find antique Bowie type to your collection. This Samuel Wragg Sheaf Island Works Sheffield Bowie knife has not been cleaned or tampered with in any way; it is in 100% original “as is” condition; these are the actual photos. I have several vintage European knives available for sale – please check out our Collectable Blades section for similar listings.
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