VERY NICE SHEFFIELD FIGHTING KNIFE IDENTIFIED TO 24TH MASSACHUSETTS SOLDIER

$2,950.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1268-256

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To Order:
Call 717-334-0347,
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Offered here is a bone-handle Sheffield knife with scabbard, belt frog, and the perfect Civil War “fighting knife” look!

The knife is approximately 13” long overall with an 8.25” blade. Knife edge has been sharpened and shows overall wear from use but there are no large nicks. Tapered top edge (not really a “clipped” edge design) leading to thick, flat top spine. Blade remains semi-bright with scattered dark spotting. Left side of blade stamped “G. WOSTENHOLM & SON / WASHINGTON WORKS / SHEFFIELD”. The Washington Works shop in Sheffield, England, was purchased by George Wostenholm in 1848. The ricasso is stamped with a large “IXL”. There is a German silver guard, a slightly curved bone handle, and a flat, German Silver pommel cap. This cap is nicely engraved “H.S. Waite / Co. G / 24th Regt / Mass. Vols.”

The current scabbard is actually a scabbard within a scabbard. The finely-crafted sheath that originally came with the knife was constructed of pasteboard wrapped in fine, textured leather. Finished with German silver tip and throat, as well as tooled designs and foil embossing on the leather. At some point the mounting “button” or hook was lost and a secondary scabbard was made to hold the lot. This outer scabbard, although less delicately constructed, has a tooled pattern matching the other. A leather frog with two belt slots is sewn onto the back. This outer sheath shows heavy use with scrapes and scuffs overall. The belt frog is loosely attached due to a tear in the leather on one side. The silver throat from the first scabbard is visible over the top edge of the second. Also, the silver tip of the first scabbard is visible as it has worn its way through at the point.

Henry S. Waite was a 26-year-old hairdresser from Dedham, Massachusetts when he enlisted as a Corporal in Company “G” of the 24th Massachusetts Infantry on September 9, 1861. Unfortunately, he was “unable to march with equipment or knapsack, can bear no fatigue or excitement, cannot perform guard or any duty requiring exertion.” He was absent from duty for 60 days and finally discharged May 23, 1862 at New Berne, NC. After the war he got married and became a Broker. He died in 1907 and is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, Massachusetts.

In the 19th century, hairdressers, often men, played a crucial role in styling the hair of wealthy women, especially for special occasions, and some even traveled to clients' homes, with the profession gaining popularity as salons emerged.

From the Texas Civil War Museum collection.  [jet][ph:L]

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