Measuring 11 1/4 inches overall, the 7 inch long clip point blade features an unsharpened 4 1/8 inch false edge ahead of a set of file decorations on the spine, with "V(crown)R/G.BEARDSHAW/CAST STEEL" on the left ricasso. The decoration sends mixed messages, with California-themed etching ("I CAN DIG GOLD FROM QUARTZ" and "CALIFORNIA BOWIE KNIFE") on the left side of the blade, and "TEXAS/BOWIE" stamped in a scroll on the right ricasso. California and Texas were popular themes on Sheffield-made knives destined for the blade-hungry American market, both for their frontier associations, the former with the Gold Rush and the latter with the final campaigns of Jim Bowie, though normally one did not mix them. The hilt features an oval German silver guard and a cutlery-style cast silver grip with fine scroll detail. With a brown leather sheath.

Fine. The blade shows a mixed gray patina with spotting and minor handling marks, some lost detail in the etching, polishing marks, and a few nicks in the edge. The hilt is very fine, with a few small dings. The silver has been lightly polished, with dark contrasting patina in the low areas. The sheath is very good, with scuffs and cracks.