i000000
FINE & RARE ~ ANTIQUE COFFIN HILT RECLINING LION BOWIE KNIFE ~ CIRCA 1852 - 1859
Click to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to EnlargeClick to Enlarge
Description:
CLICK ON THE IMAGES IN THE SLIDE SHOW TO MAKE THEM FULL SIZE
RARE ~ COFFIN HILT ~ RECLINING LION POMMEL
CLIP POINT BLADE ~ SHARPENED FALSE EDGE ~ ANTIQUE BOWIE KNIFE ~ ORIGINAL SHEATH
BY CORSAN, DENTON & BURDEKIN ~ SHEFFIELD ~ CIRCA 1852-59
Corsan Denton & Co. was a short lived Bowie Knife maker, circa 1850 to 1852. However, they were prominent enough to have a retail outlet at 100 John St. in New York City. Burdekin joined the firm in 1852, and the name changed to Corsan Denton Burdekin & Co. They had outlets in New York City in 1852 at 15 Platt st. In 1853 the store moved to 15 Gold st., and in 1858 they moved again to 25 Cliff st. This Corsan Denton Burdekin & Co Bowie maker went out of business in 1859. Their early Bowies were created in a variety of styles; probably reflected by the many different unfinished knife parts, blade blanks, mounts, hilt material, sheaths, etc. on hand that were acquired from the numerous cutlery firms going out of business, mergers, acquisitions and buy-outs during the hey day of the Sheffield Bowie making business in the 1850\'s. Sheffield Bowie knives were completely hand forged, hand ground, hand fitted & hand polished; using only simple hand tools.
During most of the mid 1800\'s there was little law and order, and it was \"every man for himself\". Men were constantly at risk of being waylaid by thugs, ner\' do goods, thieves, robbers and bandits. Men typically carried a cap and ball percussion pistol for self-protection; and it wasn\'t until the Colt 1849 Pocket model percussion revolver was introduced that most men could afford to purchase and carry a multi-shot pistol for self protection. Even then, percussion cap & ball pistols were prone to misfiring; thus, men would typically carry a dirk, dagger or Bowie knife as a Side Arm and primary or back-up weapon. Bowie knives were the rage in America from the early 1830\'s through the Civil War period. Even though most States outlawed carrying Bowie knifes in the 1840\'s, Men continued to carry them as a back up weapon and a necessity; and a required accoutrement / fashion statement for Gentlemen of means.
Sheffield Makers never threw anything away; and 2 published examples, along with the Reclining Lion Bowie, illustrate the variety of Bowies made up from whatever parts they had on hand; much like Colt did to use up parts on conversions when the metallic cartridge was first introduced, and continued until all the useable parts were gone. One Corsan Denton Burdekin & Co Bowie example is shown on page 271 of the Antique Bowie Knife book. This Bowie has fancy mounts, an unusual dagger grind to the tip, a similar false edge grind to the Reclining Lion Bowie, and a typical Sheffield style sheath, but with a factory frog. Another Corsan Denton Burdekin & Co Bowie example is shown on page 77 of Flayderman\'s Bowie book. This Bowie also has a coffin shaped hilt like the Reclining Lion Bowie; but has early style bias cut horn scales with unusual 8 scale pins and an unusual early style escutcheon & placement; yet a standard boat shaped cross guard. The blade shape and false edge are unusual; and the sheath has an early style tip and an enameled shell pattern panel that is typically associated with an earlier 1840\'s period. This Rare Corsan Denton Burdekin Coffin Hilt Reclining Lion Bowie dates to the 1852-1859 period; yet has several unusual early characteristics which suggest it was made in the early years when the firm was using up theconglomerateof cutlery parts on hand that were acquired for the 1850 start up, and again with the 1852 Burdekin merger.
This Bowie is 12 7/8\" overall in the sheath. The Bowie is 12 1/4\" overall with an early style elongated 7 13/16\" long X 1 1/16” wide clip point blade with a large, 4 3/4\" top early style sharpened false edge. This early style elongated false edge was factory sharpened as an additional cutting surface; and could also be used as an additional cutting edge when making a return stroke in a knife fight. Bowies from this 1850\'s period were intended as a necessary Gentleman\'s accoutrement and fancy Side Arm & self-defense weapon to the unreliable 1850\'s percussion handguns; and were created to be used as a primary or back up self-defense weapon before the more reliable metallic cartrige firearms were in general use. Thus, they fall into the early category of edged weapons made for personal self-defense purposes; and have the accompanying Mano-a-Mano romance and history associated with this early period of History where Bowie knives were a necessary weapon and accouterment. For Frontiersmen, Trappers and Sportsmen, they were also used for clearing a campsite and dressing big game.
The ricasso is hot stamped, \"(C)ORSAN DENTON\" & \"BURDEKIN\" in a 2-line curved gang stamp. Note the \"C\" in Corsan was positioned off the ricasso when originally hot stamped. The blade is full with the tip intact. Under 10x magnification, there are minuscule area ofunevennessfrom actual use to the blade edge; but when you run your finger along the edge, you can\'t feel them. This Bowie has old light sharpening marks overall, but has not been sharpened in over a century. There are areas of naturally occurring aging (light pitting) overall that is more pronounced near the tip, and one small rough spot on the back side at the end of the sharpened false edge. Almost all knives have been polished or buffed in their lifetime, sometimes, dozens of times; but this blade has a nice, even, medium grey natural aged patina overall and is in untouched, as found condition. This naturally occurring patina is desirable on old 19th Century blades as this typically takes 100+ years or so to form; and, confirms the genuine age of the knife.
The hilt of this Bowie is the desirable early style Coffin Hilt pattern. The entire early style cast hilt is one piece German silver; considered to be top-of-the-line because of it\'s heft, sturdiness, and greater cost to manufacture; with the blade tang being secured inside the hilt. This early style cast Coffin Shaped hilt has 2 flat areas to apply the scales. The hilt scales are stag, about 1/4\" thick; secured with 5 German Silver pins, en suite with the cast hilt. 5 pins are unusual; almost all scales typically have 4; the center pin also helps secure the tang. All natural materials shrink over time; especially stag due to it\'sporousness. The scales have a beautiful, natural aged patina. The front scale has one small pin crack in the lower left corner; caused by the natural shrinkage of the stag and pressure from the pin. The back, non-display side also have cracks at the top 2 pins; and the front pin has a small piece of stag that popped off and has a very old restoration with dark brown material that matches the dark brown coloration of the stag, and is not distracting overall.
The early style cast Coffin Shaped hilt has 2 flat areas at the pommel to affix the pommel design. The pommel has a Reclining Lion design inside a sloping border, and this early pattern is known in the 1840\'s. These Reclining Lion designs are hollow stamped German Silver that are affixed with solder. There are are very few dings or dents to the Lion pommel with just a few very small rub marks. Overall, they are in excellent condition with expected normal handing marks that conforms to what is expected in a well cared for Bowie knife. The early style fancy thick cross guard is 3\" long x 1/8\" thick, solid German Silver; with the quillons resembling a tear drop pattern in profile. Later style cross guards were standardized and typically an oval shape. The cross guard is very slightly bent downward about 1/8\" on both sides; and the evenness on both sides suggests this was purposefully done by a previous owner to create a different look. Both the cast hilt and cross guard have a nice matching color & aged patina that only comes from 100+ years of natural aging. German silver takes decades to form any patina, and this patina is in the untouched and unpolished condition that advanced collectors love to see. The hollow stamped early style Reclining Lion shells* are a contrasting silver colored German Silver.
This unusual Bowie also has several unusual and early style features in the sheath. This unusual early styleelongatedshaped blade requires an unusualelongatedshaped sheath to match. When you lay the early elongated style blade over the elongated style sheath, the borders are uniform, demonstrating that this is the correct and original sheath. The original gold embossed cardboard sheath has the early style cross hatched (checkered) pattern leather veneer. The gold embossing early moniker \"SUPERIOR STROP\" is unique. The words Superior, Celebrated, Elegant, etc.. are all early Monikers. This unusual sheath as an early style short 1/2\" tall German Silver throat with an applied end lip, and never had a frog button. Early style sheaths without frog buttons were usually carried on a leather belt frog, or stuck in a shash or between the belt and pants. Some early style sheaths were made without tips (or throats); and it is uncertain whether this unusual sheath ever had a tip. All of these unusual sheath features are early, and en suite; suggesting it was made up from old early style inventory on hand during the early years when the firm was using up the congomeration of cutlery parts from out of business firms for the 1850 start combined with additional stock acquired in the 1852 merger with Burdekin. Very few 19th Century Bowies have any sheath at all; and when found, these thin, delicate cardboard sheaths are usually worn, creased, torn, broken off, et al. The sheath has a small hole at the tip end caused by the tip of the blade piercing the thin cardboard veneer with a few handling marks from actual period use; otherwise, the sheath shows light wear, has been lightly carried, and is in excellent condition for it\'s age. The fancy original gold embossing is very delicate, and can easily be rubbed off, but is in fine, original condition. When sheathed, the blade fits the sheath properly with just a little wiggle, as expected. When held hilt up, the sheath stays on the blade. This Bowie is a formidable and deadly weapon, weighing 9.1 ounces with the sheath.
This Rare Coffin Hilted Reclining Lion Bowie Knife is for the advanced knife collector, is only one of a handful I have seen in years; and is rarely offered for sale. This handsome Bowie by a highly regarded Sheffield 19th Century maker has lots of eye appeal; and is for the collector that understands the romance of a Rare piece of Self-Defense Bowie Knife History, and appreciates the investment potential of a Fine Bowie knife. This Bowie would compliment any Bowie, 19th Century Knife, Western Americana, Western, Old West, Hunting, Frontier, Frontiersman, Gambling, Gambler, Dandy, American West, Weapon or Edged Weapon collection. Provenance: This piece was in the well known collection of Ken Burton from Australia; an Early Bowie Knife collector in the 1960\'s and author of the 1988 \"A Sure Defense, The Bowie Knife\" book.
FREE U.S.A. SHIPPING, HANDLING & DELIVERY or SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION
FOR USA PURCHASES, SHIPPING, HANDLING & DELIVERY or SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION IS FREE VIA U.S.P.S. FIRST CLASS MAIL (UP TO 14 OZ.) OR U.S.P.S. PRIORITY MAIL USING ONLINE SHIPPING LABELS WITH EMAIL CONFIRMATION. REQUIRES A SIGNATURE CONFIRMATION FOR ALL ITEMS $250 OR MORE. PLEASE MAKE DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS FOR ITEMS REQUIRING A SIGNATURE AS PROOF OF RECEIPT. does not allow optional or required buyer selected shipping insurance. Sellers cannot charge the buyer a separate fee for insurance in a listing or after the buyer has committed to purchase the item, and cannot indicate insurance is only offered upon buyers request. For items $1,000 and over, buyer has the option to pay additional costs for U.S.P.S. Express mail with tracking. All items are shipped within 1 to 2 business days with email confirmation. Items shipped to a California address require CA State sales tax of 8.625% or a valid CA seller\'s permit #, or the item can not be shipped. Items shipped to a U.S.A. address and paid for using PayPal and shipped via PayPal or online shipping service are covered for non-delivery by their shipping service with delivery confirmation or signature confirmation. PayPal requires the buyer to have a Verified U.S.A. Account, make a single payment from one account & ship the item to the U.S.A. address on the transaction details page.
PAYMENT
PAYPAL & ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER, e-CHECKS & ALL MAJOR CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS THROUGH PAY PAL. PREPAID NEGOTIABLE U.S.A. PAPER BANK DOCUMENTS & PERSONAL BANK DRAFTS DRAWN ON A U.S.A. BANK CONSIDERED WITH PRIOR APPROVAL.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
BUYER MUST CONFIRM HIGH buyer STATUS WITHIN 48 HOURS after the end of the sale; and PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY ME WITHIN 3 CALENDAR DAYS (electronic payment) OR 5 DAYS (paper payment with pre-approval) of the sale\'s end; otherwise, seller reserves the right to cancel the sale and report you to as a non-paying buyer. Seller reserves the right to re-list an item if \'s system goes down within 12 hours of the end of the sale. offers will not be accepted from anyone that is not a registered user. Seller reserves the right to cancel offers from any er who has an unsatisfactory transaction history, has changed their user Identity in the previous 30 days, or whose rating is listed as private.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE me BUTTON IN MY items FOR ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS & SERVICES OFFERED BY
WEST COAST TRADING POST
v. 1.1.2013
inkfrog terapeak
