Desirable S.C. Wragg, Sheffield Etched Blade "General Taylor" Bowie Knife
Manufactured by S.C. Wragg of Sheffield, England c. 1846-1848. It measures 11 5/8 inches overall with a 7 3/16 inch clip point blade with a long shallow false edge. The left ricasso is marked with S.C. Wragg's 25 Furnace Hill, Sheffield address. The left of the blade has been etched with a side profile bust of general Zachary Taylor in military uniform with a banner above and below marked "GENERAL" and "TAYLOR" respectively. Bowie knives featuring Taylor were incredibly popular around and shortly after the Mexican-American War, including during his presidential campaign in 1848. Ironically during his campaign Taylor stated that he wished to replace the "bowie knife and revolver" with "law and order" in California. It has an elliptically shaped German silver guard and a plain German silver pommel with antique ivory grip scales.
Very good, the blade mostly bright with a scattered speckling of darker grey patina/light surface pitting, some evidence of cleaning, and crisp etching. The German silver shows an attractive lightly aged patina. The grip scales are fine with a minor age crack in the edge of the right panel and otherwise light handling marks.
