Manufactured by Tillotson of Sheffield, England c. 1850s. The overall length is 14 7/8 inches with a 10 7/8 inch clip point blade that is etched on the left with "Gold Hunters Knife/E.PLURIBUS UNUM/PALO ALTO" along with a patriotic eagle, stand of arms, and floral motifs. The knife is an obvious attempt by a Sheffield knife maker to dip into a larger portion of the American market, targeting both gold hunters and Mexican-American War veterans. The grip has pearl scales, recurved German silver guard, and the German silver hilt featuring a high relief reclining lion. Includes a lightly tooled leather sheath with German silver fittings. Similar knives are pictured on p. 233 of "The Antique Bowie Knife Book" by Adams, Voyles, and Moss and on p. 102 of "The Bowie Knife: Unsheathing an American Legend" by Flayderman.

Very fine, the exceptional original blade is mostly bright with some surface blemishes, and mostly well-defined etching. The grip is also very fine generally showing an attractive antiqued patina and some light handling marks on the grip scales. The sheath is fine with some moderate wear and period resoldered button.