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Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum
Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum

Antique Early 1830’s American Fighting Bowie Knife Spanish Notch, Texas Museum

$ 4224

Availability: 52 in stock
  • Condition: Excellent Condition
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Theme: Militaria
  • Time Period Manufactured: 1784-1860

    Description

    Title:
    Antique Early 1830’s American Bowie Knife with Fighting Notch
    Description:
    This large early 1830's American frontier Bowie knife has a distinct clip-point blade, a Spanish fighting notch, a one-piece hickory grips with precisely fitted interlocking pewter mounts at the collar and pommel, likely indicating the knife was crafted by Kentucky rifle maker.  It is truly a spectacular knife and one of my all-time favorites.  The massive blade measures 12 ¾ inches and overall, 17 ¼ inches.  The knife was cleverly designed for fighting and incorporates both offensive and defensive characteristics rarely seen on any other knives, though is distinctive to a handful of knives from the early 1830’s.
    The handle, guard and ricasso combined make for a unique hilt
    configuration,
    designed for
    offensive characteristics in which the guard fits against jam between the users thumb and index finger, fitting precisely against the concave contour of the guard. Then the index finger locks around the concave groove bellow the ricasso area behing the choil. The thumb can then firmly fit against the spine or can lock over the index finger to form an interlocking fist, as seen in my pictures and the illustration from Sam Houston's official memiors illustrated by Jacob Dallas.  This extreamly rare
    type
    configuration is referred to by
    knowledgeable
    collectors as a “fist knife.”  In addition to having a secure hold on the knife, the effect also results in a perfectly balanced fit in one’s hand; and, the knife feels so amazingly light weight in ones hand and almost feels like an extension of one's own arm resulting in quick and effortless movements.  You have to grasp the knife in such a way to fully understand the intentional effectiveness and precision of this design.
    In addition, the knife also shows an unusual defensive design characteristic when the knife is held in the usual manner.  The round notch at the choil is often referred to as a “fighting notch” and more commonly a “Spanish notch,” resulting from earlier parrying daggers classified as the “main-gauche.”  In particular, the Spanish 17th century style main-gauche most often employed similar grooved notches near the ricasso for catching the opponent's sword blades.  Similarly, main-gauches with multiple dominant notches going up the blade are referred to as “sword breakers.”  When a fighting notch is seen on Bowie knives, it always indicates a high-quality fighting knife from the early 1830’s.  Having said that, it is nevertheless very rare to see a notch on any antique Bowie knife of this specific era, much less on a “fist knife.”
    Again, It is truly a spectacular knife and is among three of my all-time favorites.
    Note:
    Please, watch my auctions and do not hesitate to ask any questions. I have many more museum quality pieces to sell, most of which have been exhibited. This includes many more antique knives, swords, Spanish colonial. Mexican and Texas militaria, art, and even some of personal effects of historical individuals, such as Sam Houston.