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. The bowie knife was a very popular armament for the citizens of San Francisco, with Price's knives holding a particularly high reputation as the sidearm of the city's elite, with some reported selling at up to $250 (nearly $7000 when inflation adjusted). 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 nice, compact belt knife, 10 inches long, with a 5 5/8 inch clip point blade with "M.PRICE/SAN FRANCISCO" on the left ricasso. A small oval German silver guard is installed, with a contoured antique ivory hilt featuring a raised carved scroll panel on the left side. The sheath is primarily German silver construction, with a ball tip and a steel belt hook.

Very good. The blade shows a mixed gray patina, with sharpening marks, mild spotting, and a small amount of pitting. The front corners of the ricasso has been taken down by an unknown party, though the coloration of the lowered areas are consistent with the rest of the knife. The grip is good, with a mended chip visible on the left side ahead of the carved panel, a few other light handling marks, and a fine aged color. The sheath is good with the repaired belt hook soldered in place and some dents on the body. A very nice piece from a top name in American Frontier cutlery.