Arnachellum Salem Bowie Knife

Deann Melton — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 22:14:10 +0000

This magnificent bowie knife,Arnachellum Salem Bowie Knife, was made for British trade in India. I have seen others turn up in the US particularly in New Orleans and other places in the south. This one came from the east coast, Boston I think. The scabbard is wood covered with diced leather and has a fire blued retention latch. It has a beautiful stag grip and is just about mint. In the 70’s these knives were thought to come from Salem, Mass., but that did not prove to be the case. I have owned this knife for about 25 years. Fit and finish remind me of a London bowie and it seems likely that the knife was made for the British in India 1850’s hunting big game or self defense.

The last one I saw was smaller and heavily used and had a New Orlean’s dealers mark on it.

There are two of these knives in the Royal British Collection at Sandringham House which are somewhat more decorated with silver and engraving, but still this is a really cracking great knife!

Please note that there is an area of rust on the left side of the blade near the ricasso. Even so this is a high finish blade.

EDWARD BARNES BOWIE-HUNTER’S COMPANION

Deann Melton — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 18:16:05 +0000

This large Bowie is Civil War period. Barnes was in business from 1856 til 1865. The knife has a nice stag grip and an open cartouche. It is cracked on the left side of the grip at the pin but is stable. The blade is 9 1/4 inches long and the knife is 14 3/8 inches overall.

The blade is etched with “THE REAL US KNIFE” and “HUNTERS COMPANION”. The blade has seen quite a bit of sharpening but no abuse.

The scabbard is fine and of the period but is not the one that came with the knife.

Bowie Knife | Blue Stem Antiques

Arnachellum Salem Bowie Knife

EDWARD BARNES BOWIE-HUNTER’S COMPANION