A bowie knife by Sauerland

Matt Easton · 24th April 2013, 06:23 PM

Hi all,
I picked up this bowie knife recently. It is big, with a 12.5 inch blade (17.5 inch overall) and the hilt is a kind of pistol grip design, with a groove for the little finger and a weighted pommel for balance. I can not find any info on the maker, though I have found other 19th century knives that sold in auction marked to the same maker and Sauerland and Hatch were apparently Birmingham outfitters in the mid-19th century and there may be a connection.

Is anybody here able to tell me anything more about the design or the maker? I've never seen a bowie with a hilt like this before, but it is lovely to hold.

Thanks,
Matt

Norman McCormick · 25th April 2013, 04:00 PM

Hi Matt,
Not sure about anything re this knife but the hilt, to my mind, has vague similarities to some Balkan weapons with an indent for a finger grip. The attached photo is of a large knife from the Trabzon area of Turkey and shows quite clearly this type of indent so yours maybe made for export to this part of the world.
Regards,
Norman.

P.S. You should try posting the knife in the Ethno section.

thinreadline · 25th April 2013, 06:29 PM

Matt I have seen similar hilted machetes by this maker made for the S American market ..... I dont think it is the case with yours but sometimes these machetes have had their blades reshaped to bowies to enhance their value .

Norman McCormick · 25th April 2013, 06:39 PM

Hi,
South America does seem more plausible.
Regards,
Norman.

Matt Easton · 25th April 2013, 07:19 PM

Many thanks - Googling this maker does turn up another knife - this example is described by the dealer as probably being for the South American market - it has a similar hilt ferule/bolster, though the pommel is entirely different:

Very interesting to hear that there are machete with the same style hilt as mine.

thinreadline · 25th April 2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Easton

Many thanks - Googling this maker does turn up another knife - this example is described by the dealer as probably being for the South American market - it has a similar hilt ferule/bolster, though the pommel is entirely different:

Very interesting to hear that there are machete with the same style hilt as mine.

Yes I had one a few years ago but sold it. I have emailed the guy in case he still has it ... however the chances are slim as he is a dealer and probably sold it .. still , if we can trace it , it would be interesting .

24th April 2013, 06:23 PM	#1
Matt Easton Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, Great Britain. Posts: 53	A bowie knife by Sauerland Hi all, I picked up this bowie knife recently. It is big, with a 12.5 inch blade (17.5 inch overall) and the hilt is a kind of pistol grip design, with a groove for the little finger and a weighted pommel for balance. I can not find any info on the maker, though I have found other 19th century knives that sold in auction marked to the same maker and Sauerland and Hatch were apparently Birmingham outfitters in the mid-19th century and there may be a connection. Is anybody here able to tell me anything more about the design or the maker? I've never seen a bowie with a hilt like this before, but it is lovely to hold. Thanks, Matt

25th April 2013, 04:00 PM	#2
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,596	Hi Matt, Not sure about anything re this knife but the hilt, to my mind, has vague similarities to some Balkan weapons with an indent for a finger grip. The attached photo is of a large knife from the Trabzon area of Turkey and shows quite clearly this type of indent so yours maybe made for export to this part of the world. Regards, Norman. P.S. You should try posting the knife in the Ethno section. Attached Images Last edited by Norman McCormick; 25th April 2013 at 06:19 PM.

25th April 2013, 06:29 PM	#3
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Matt I have seen similar hilted machetes by this maker made for the S American market ..... I dont think it is the case with yours but sometimes these machetes have had their blades reshaped to bowies to enhance their value .

25th April 2013, 06:39 PM	#4
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,596	Hi, South America does seem more plausible. Regards, Norman.

25th April 2013, 07:19 PM	#5
Matt Easton Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, Great Britain. Posts: 53	Many thanks - Googling this maker does turn up another knife - this example is described by the dealer as probably being for the South American market - it has a similar hilt ferule/bolster, though the pommel is entirely different: Very interesting to hear that there are machete with the same style hilt as mine.