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 fine compact push dagger, 5 inches long and 3 inches wide in overall dimensions, with a 2 1/4 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 antique ivory handle, which is just long enough for a full handed grip and fitted with a silver finished ferrule for the blade tang. The sheath is of German silver construction, with a flared throat and a ball tip. 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 good. The steel shows a dark mixed gray patina, with extensive light pitting and edge nicks. The fine grip shows some mild age cracks and attractive color. The sheath is very good, with a few light dings.