Born in Limerick, Ireland, Michael Price was himself the son of an Irish knifemaker, and in the 1850s decided to take his chances on the New World. Exact estimates on when he arrived in San Francisco and how he established himself varied; some have him earning his initial capital as a water pipe foreman, others have him setting up in the corner of the shop of A.J. Taylor, arms dealer and Deringer agent notoriously shot in the face with his own merchandise by a careless client. However he started, by 1860 he was the name among names for knifemakers in California, making everything from utility blades to high-class sidearms for the well-to-do. In advertisements, Price's bowies were claimed to be capable of being stabbed through a stack of three silver dollars and retain their edge. This particular Price specimen is a very compact push dagger, 5 inches long and 2 7/8 inches wide in overall dimensions, with a 2 3/8 inch double edged spear point blade with a hollow ground profile and "M.PRICE/SAN FRAN." on the obverse ricasso. The shank of the blade is nicely contoured to match the smooth one piece handle, which is just long enough for a full handed grip and fitted with a visible German silver ferrule for the blade tang. The sheath is of German silver construction, with a decorative ball tip and a flared throat. No particular retention or suspension devices are installed, though the fit of the blade to the sheath is tight enough to ensure retention if kept in an appropriately sized pocket or container.

Very fine overall. The exceptional original blade is bright overall, with some minor spotting concentrated around the grip and light handling marks overall. The tip has been sharpened with most of the balance in bright original polish. The grip is very fine, with a few light age cracks and a well aged color. The sheath is fine, with some light dents and scuffs. Overall an extremely rare push dagger from arguably the top maker of his time!