Manufactured by Wragg & Son of Sheffield, England, c. 1856-1858. An almost identical knife by Wragg & Sons is pictured and described on p. 326-327 of "The Antique Bowie Knife Book" by Adams, Voyles, and Moss. Knives like this were incredibly popular on the Western Frontier as a last line of defense after a Winchester lever action and a Colt revolver. It measures 16 5/8 inches overall with a 12 1/8 inch spear point blade. One ricasso is marked "WRAGG&SONS.SOLLYST/CELEBRATED. CUTLERY". The guard is thin elliptically shaped German silver, smooth horn grip scales on the German silver encased coffin-shaped hilt, and a half-horse, half-alligator on each side of the pommel which is cast German silver. Includes a gilt accented, lightly tooled brown leather sheath with German silver fittings.

Very good, the blade showing a mix of grey and brown patina with some scattered oxidation, a few nicks in the edges, attractively aged patina on the German silver, and a few minor handling marks on the grip scales, all typical of a well-traveled Bowie. The sheath is also very good with moderate wear and tip absent. A desirable Sheffield made Bowie knife that shows the full-blooded character of the American West!