Designed by Admiral John Dahlgren as a replacement for the sword pattern bayonets then used on the 1861 Plymouth Rifle, the Dahlgren Bowie was a weapon made with an eye for the kind of brutal, up-close combat that unfolds during boarding actions, shore landings, and similar events; in essence, it's a nasty monster of a knife that can, in a pinch, be used as a bayonet. 16 3/4 inches overall, with a 12 inch asymmetrical clip point blade, marked "USN/D.R/1864" and "(anchor)/P/GG" on the right ricasso and bearing the Ames address on the left. Brass and wood grip, with a "DR" cartouche on the pommel. Leather sheath, with a brass throat and tip.

Fine with a few nicks and mild spotting on the bright, fine blade. A mixed aged patina is present on the brass, with a shallow crack or casting error on the left side of the lug channel, and the wood shows a few small chips and hoes. The sheath is very good, with a rivet absent from the tip and some cracking and flaking of the leather.