Here’s a Civil War era Bowie that was not welcome in any Confederate’s home, as the offensive inscription on the blade was intended for them! This “vile knife”, as the southerners called it, is copied from a unique early American knife featured on page 52 of The Antique Bowie Knife Book. Printed in 1990, it is one of the first books to showcase a large collection of some of the world’s finest and rarest Bowies.
Cutler John Chevalier sold his wares on Broadway in New York City, a long way from the death and destruction of the fevered battles of the war. Famous for his surgical instruments, he made a unique grip pattern on his knives using brass with checkered ebony. Originals of this Union loyalist knife are scarce. We made our replica just like the original, with a high-carbon steel clip point blade and a grip made with four pieces of hardwood nestled into the four quadrants of the brass handle frame. The blade is inscribed "Death to Traitors". The wood scales are checkered and stained to match the Ebony wood of the original. Many species of Ebony are now classified as threatened and are illegal to sell.
The sheath of the original didn’t survive, so we’ve re-created a period style one with a brass throat and chape, and an embossed diamond pattern on the leather.
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