Markings on a D-Guard Bowie knife

Jim McDougall · 22nd June 2021, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbelly52

Thanks to all for the great input. Yes, I think this could be a repurposed machete blade. The thickness is 1/8" which is a bit thin for a knife of this size(IMHO). The knife measures 19 1/4" long. I have not weighed it on a scale but feels like around a pound or so. It has a very good "feel". Well balanced. Not just thrown together, if that makes any sense... The machete picture in one of the responses looks like a good candidate for my knife blade. Any idea the age of that machete?....From the research that I have done, there were several blade manufacturers that exported blades to the US and other countries, beginning in the early 1800's. Robert Mole exported blades, including machetes, (machets as they were spelled early). I have a photo of a Robert Mole "eighteenth century" "Steamer" machete that has a picture of a steamship on the blade. William Hunt also made and exported blades during the same time frame. His trademark was "The Brades" (early 1900's). Both companies offered machetes with the tri-fuller...As stated before, none of the markings, including the crown VR were visible until I put the paint on. The lettering, possibly two lines, appears to me to show a W and an O. I had assumed this was a blacksmith altered knife, using a blade from a machete. I hope that someone might have seen lettering like this before.

The WO on the blade would represent 'war office' , the appellation used for the Board of Ordnance after 1855. With the VR and those initials, it would appear that this blade was from a machete issued to other ranks by the British government, post 1855.
It would seem likely that these machetes were certainly issued for colonial use in highly vegetal regions, so there are a number of possibilities.

thinreadline · 28th June 2021, 11:26 PM

I am positive that this has been made from a reshaped English export machete blade . I have had over the years several of these machetes with crowned VR and even crowned ( Georgian ) GR on the blade. These markings I recall reading are spurious and were simply added to enhance the perceived quality of the item in the eyes of potential overseas buyers , rather than denoting ex British military service . Because of the high price which attracts to large 'Confederate' bowies these machete blades seem to be the basis of many an unscrupulous forgers fare. Despite the VR on the blade , the makers name and address on one's I have had appear to be in a much more modern font.

thinreadline · 28th June 2021, 11:43 PM

Here are 2 'royally' marked machetes I used to own , neither of which I believe to be as old as they purport to be .

Redbelly52 · 29th June 2021, 01:16 PM

Thanks for your input. I also think this knife began life as a machete.The machetes in your photo do not appear to have other markings. This blade seems to have at least one row of lettering? and perhaps two rows. I have not been able to make out any letters with the exception of an "O" and maybe a "W". Have you seen any machete's of this type with lettering? If needed, I can post other photos, but the lettering is not any clearer in them. Thanks again for your reply.

28th June 2021, 11:43 PM	#3
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Here are 2 'royally' marked machetes I used to own , neither of which I believe to be as old as they purport to be . Attached Images

28th June 2021, 11:26 PM	#2
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	I am positive that this has been made from a reshaped English export machete blade . I have had over the years several of these machetes with crowned VR and even crowned ( Georgian ) GR on the blade. These markings I recall reading are spurious and were simply added to enhance the perceived quality of the item in the eyes of potential overseas buyers , rather than denoting ex British military service . Because of the high price which attracts to large 'Confederate' bowies these machete blades seem to be the basis of many an unscrupulous forgers fare. Despite the VR on the blade , the makers name and address on one's I have had appear to be in a much more modern font.

29th June 2021, 01:16 PM	#4
Redbelly52 Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: upstate South Carolina Posts: 4	Thanks for your input. I also think this knife began life as a machete.The machetes in your photo do not appear to have other markings. This blade seems to have at least one row of lettering? and perhaps two rows. I have not been able to make out any letters with the exception of an "O" and maybe a "W". Have you seen any machete's of this type with lettering? If needed, I can post other photos, but the lettering is not any clearer in them. Thanks again for your reply.