This imported Sheffield-marked steel and horn artifact is a fine example of a non-dug, Civil War soldier’s belt knife commonly referred to as a “Bowie” knife.  Specimen is a solid and well-balanced example of a Bowie that was finely crafted by a craftsman from the Sheffield area of England. Knife features a business-like 6” long steel blade and measures a total length of 10¾” long.  The menacing blade is 1” wide and 1/8^th” thick at the back and exhibits a 2¾” long clipped point. Surface of the blade shows scattered areas of rust pitting and dark age discoloration overall.  Blade exhibits the maker’s name “ISAAC H / SHEFFIELD” stamped on the reverse ricasso. Blade edge has been sharpened and exhibits light edge nicks about the point and edge areas. Two separate pieces of stag antler tightly flank the blade tang and are secured with five brass pins that extend fully into the grips.  An elongated, 2” long German-silver guard fronts the handle.  Guard is slightly loose but the grips are comfortable and very tight.

Scabbard is of red Morrocan leather that has been heavily used and scuffed to a beige color. It retains its brass collar and button frog but the brass point at the tip is missing.   Scabbard body has a split on the top portion of the seam at the clipped point.  Visible on the scabbard body on one side are two initials “U * S” impressed on the leather. Glued to the opposite side of scabbard is an old paper tag with handwritten notes regarding the capture of the knife. Paper has darkened considerably and the writing is difficult to discern but it there. Lightly engraved on the brass collar is the owner’s name “D. Puryn” in script. No research done on Puryn. This “Bowie” knife of the Civil War period is a fine example and would make a fine addition to any American military knife collection or display.