Description
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.
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