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 a top name in the California market, producing a full spectrum from the tough but simple knife of the settler or prospector to the finely furnished but still deadly sidearm of the urban gentleman. In terms of style and quality, some Price knives were known to have sold upwards of $250 (nearly $7000 when inflation adjusted) and were advertised as being able to be driven through a stack of three silver dollars without losing the point or edge. This particular Price specimen is a fine belt knife, 11 1/2 inches long, with a 7 inch blade marked "M.PRICE/SAN FRANCISCO" on the left ricasso and a very shallow unsharpened clip. The tang is full length, tapering towards the hilt and contoured to match the smooth antique ivory grips. The left grip panel is decorated with a scrimshawed insect (possibly a honey bee) about 1 5/8 inches wide. The sheath is of nickel construction, with a long belt hook and a "weave" pattern to the throat.

Very Good. The blade shows a mixed gray patina, with some eroded patches on the right side of the blade near the tip (suggestive of some kind of fluid exposure), scattered mild spotting, some light dings on the spine and evidence of period-of-use sharpening. The edge has taken a few nicks, with one in particular near the ricasso that has been polished out. The left grip panel shows breaks through the pins at the front and rear, with a replacement piece of material professionally fitted at the rear. Both grip panels show a fine aged color and grain. The sheath is fair, with some scuffs and a patch of residue (possibly from an old inventory label) on the body opposite the belt hook.