A MAGNIFICENT AND LARGE EXHIBITION QUALITY BOWIE KNIFE

A MAGNIFICENT AND LARGE EXHIBITION QUALITY BOWIE KNIFE, 35.5cm clipped back blade stamped MANSON SHEFFIELD at the forte and with the UNION handshake emblem, white metal mounted hilt, the crossguard composed of two opposing heads facing the pommel, reeded wooden grip set with a white metal escutcheon to either side, one of coffin form and one of shield form, bold horse's head pommel, contained in its white metal mounted red Morocco leather scabbard with gilt Greek key border and central foliate spray. The large size of this piece, 55.5cm over all, combined with the quality would suggest that it was either an exhibition piece, display piece or special commission. Manson of Sheffield was a prolific supplier of cutlery hilted Bowie knives in the 19th Century.