This is a rare example of a bowie knife manufactured by Boyle & Gamble. Edwin Boyle & Thomas Gamble joined to form one of at least three firms that produced edged weapons in Richmond, Virginia, during the Civil War for the Confederate war effort. They were located on South 6th Street and marketed their wares privately under the name Boyle & Gamble to individuals and retailers and also sold weapons under government contracts under Boyle, Gamble, & MacFee. Their wares included swords, bayonets, and bowie knifes, and they are known to have been the mostly prolific bladesmiths of the region while still supplying high quality items including high end swords for Confederate officers. Far more of their swords have survived making their versions of the iconic Bowie knife particularly desirable. Prior to the war, Boyle was in the saw and implement business with the Burger brothers who are also known to have produced Bowie knives. The left side of the blade is marked "BOYLE & GAMBLE/RICHMOND, VA." This marking matches those on other images of Boyle & Gamble Bowie knives including those in the research file. The cross guard is brass, and the scales are walnut with three brass rivets. The blade is 11 3/4 inches long and the overall length is 16 1/2 inches. Bowie knives were especially popular in the South during the Civil War and were used widely in battle and in the camps. The blades were sharp enough to be brutal in combat, durable enough for cutting wood and breaking bones, and broad enough to even be useful when entrenching. According to the accompanying appraisal letter from Antique Bowie Knife Association member Todd Moore, this knife "was most probably used as a hunting knife for jointing game, cracking the rib cages of bear or deer" based on signs of the knife being struck along the spine with a blunt object, likely the back of a hatchet. Some were large enough that they were more akin to machetes or short swords than knives. Many pictures from the Civil War show Confederate soldiers proudly displaying their distinctive knives.

Good. The blade has an overall smooth dark patina with some minor pitting and light oxidation. There are some small nicks along the edge of the blade and strike marks on the blunt edge from field use as noted above. The Boyle & Gamble marking is clear. The cross guard has an overall darkened aged appearance. The scales are fine and have worn in finger grooves and a lightly refreshed oil finish.