North America, Western United States, ca. 19th century CE. This is a fine antique knife with a steel bowie blade, a nickel-silver guard, and a deer antler grip. The sharpened blade has a single cutting edge, and the tang is covered with an antler grip riveted in place with brass tacks and the burr or boney rim where the antler met the animal's skull forms the pommel end. A custom sheath is sewn from a single piece of leather to protect the blade. When gripping the upward curve of the handle it is notably not the most natural position for the hand, but intentional to facilitate a certain grip. A frontier trapper or mountain man treasured his knife as a multipurpose tool and utensil to hunt, skin, cook, and eat. Guns were not always reliable and a backup sidearm was necessary for protection against animals and other people. Size: 11.5" L x 2" W (29.2 cm x 5.1 cm); (blade): 6.25" L x 1" W (15.9 cm x 2.5 cm)

Provenance: private Glorieta, New Mexico, USA collection

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#168728

Stable fissure on the antler near the rivets. Brass guard is slightly loose. Chip to tip of blade. Patina and dark toning on the blade and small area of green patina. Blade edge is quite sharp. Drying and cracking to the leather as expected with age and use, but intact and blade fits perfectly.