Do you know where your Bowie is?

[rebsr52339]

Hi folks, I'mmmmm back. This knife I am showing is one that early Bowie collectors (1965 thru 1980) should recognize. I own two of these knives. Lets start at the beginning. I "think" sometime in the late 60s I was at Bob Abels house in Hopewell Junction NY, a short trip up from NY City. I lived in Watertown Ct at the time. Bob had a beautiful colonial home there with an out building I called his fortress. It was where he mailed out the items he sold thru his catalogs. He showed me this knife I am showing here and asked me what I thought. I'm thinking, "What is this a test." I examined the knife and said, well the "factory" stampings look good. I recognize the blade shape and the guard and English stag scales. This knife is 14½ inches OA with a 9½ inch blade. Bob had one in not so fine a condition with a 12+ inch blade that was "gold rush period". After looking at it for a while it dawned on me what was wrong. I said cautiously, that the gold wash etching looks, well, not quite right. He said, "AND?"It looks bold and not the fine line I've seen on the other one and a host of other IXL knives. He said "You pass" He related to me they were assembled from "old" stock parts at the factory and were recently etched. I bought both of them paying $250 for one and $350 for the one shown here. I did it to familiarize myself with the lengths people will go to make a $. At the time a "good" California would fetch $1200 to $2500 depending on condition. I found a beauty at the Ohio Gun Coll. Show a couple years later. I have worn this knife at Rendezvous for many years. It is a "mid-monster" fighting knife. I will try and answer any questions you may have. There are "maybe" a couple hundred of this blade style out there that are "not" period.

[rebsr52339]

Here is a full length shot of the etched side of the IXL Wostenholm knife. The etching on the early knives, especially the lettering was very thin, about 1/3 the thickness of this knife. That is not to say "all" Bowies of the period were etched like that. They were not. The ABKA is having a show in Richmond Va this year. Go to their web site  http://www.antiquebowieknife.com/  for more info. If you like Bowies you will not forget this show. I will be there visiting old friends, even the ones living.    BTW the original sheaths do not come with frogs. I add them to all the knives I wear.

[GunClick Rick]

I am in awe of that knife Ned made for me.Probably the first custom made article i ever had.It stays where i can see it all the time..

[rebsr52339]

I do to. The handle is outstanding and the full tapered tang is classic. Great job and something to be proud of.