Crude Made Dagger; Opinions Please

Jim McDougall · 23rd July 2024, 11:31 PM

Looks to me like a very interesting 'frontier' knife of probably mid 19th c. give or take. The 'Bowie' term of course became a collective term for virtually any large frontier knife, it seems regardless of the actual configuration, as Rick has noted.

These followed no distinct pattern, but obviously were simply fashioned pragmatically for the rugged use on the plains, so real way to determine more exact, but certainly seems period, and not reproduction.

As Drac notes, likely and old file blade (very common and actually the 'first' Bowie was reputed from an old file blade) and bone hilt. Very nice !IMO!
Rugged frontier charm.

drac2k · 24th July 2024, 02:41 AM

Jim, I think you are right on the money. I just contacted a person that I know who owns an antique shop loaded with all manner of militaria; his shop is more like a museum . He is a historian, an author, he does world-class restorations on furniture, paintings, swords, guns, etc..He was happily describing the 6 pounder cannon that he just acquired from Brimfield.
His words were almost the same as yours;he thought that the bowie was of Mexican War Vintage (give or take), and it belonged to a frontierman.He was leaning to it being a little earlier because of both quillons being upturned as opposed to the later "S," style with one being up and the other turned down.

23rd July 2024, 11:31 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Looks to me like a very interesting 'frontier' knife of probably mid 19th c. give or take. The 'Bowie' term of course became a collective term for virtually any large frontier knife, it seems regardless of the actual configuration, as Rick has noted. These followed no distinct pattern, but obviously were simply fashioned pragmatically for the rugged use on the plains, so real way to determine more exact, but certainly seems period, and not reproduction. As Drac notes, likely and old file blade (very common and actually the 'first' Bowie was reputed from an old file blade) and bone hilt. Very nice !IMO! Rugged frontier charm.

24th July 2024, 02:41 AM	#2
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,258	Jim, I think you are right on the money. I just contacted a person that I know who owns an antique shop loaded with all manner of militaria; his shop is more like a museum . He is a historian, an author, he does world-class restorations on furniture, paintings, swords, guns, etc..He was happily describing the 6 pounder cannon that he just acquired from Brimfield. His words were almost the same as yours;he thought that the bowie was of Mexican War Vintage (give or take), and it belonged to a frontierman.He was leaning to it being a little earlier because of both quillons being upturned as opposed to the later "S," style with one being up and the other turned down.