Before his death in 1986 Fred James was Sheffield's best known Bowie Knife maker. He began his career in 1935 at Johnson's Portobello Works & continued work at Wostenholm's Washington Works in 1956. In 1971 when the companies of Wostenholm and Rodgers merged, James began his own knife making business (see pages 214-215 of The Sheffield Knife Book By Tweedale). This Fred James Sheffield made Bowie Knife & scabbard are in nice condition. The knife has polished horn scales secured with brass pins. One scale is mounted with a void brass escutcheon. It has brass pommel bolsters, both embossed with a mythical hybrid Horse / Leopard figure. It has a brass cross guard and the 8 ½” long Bowie blade is polished steel with scalloped decoration on the spine which is 5mm thick. The Bowie is 13 ¾” overall length. One side of the blade is etched with elaborate scroll work and wording "America Land Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave". The ricasso is stamped "F. W. James Sheffield". The scabbard is brown leather with integral belt loop. The front of the scabbard has tooled decoration. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23366
£495.00