LOT 4343. RARE & LARGE WOODHEAD & HARTLEY FOLDING KNIFE, CIRCA 1841

LOT 4343. RARE & LARGE WOODHEAD & HARTLEY FOLDING KNIFE, CIRCA 1841

02-23267

10.25″ overall, heavy 4.25″ clip-point blade, stamped cyphers of six dogs, hunter on horseback with a rifle, “AMERICAN HUNTING KNIFE”, & “OF THE BEST QUALITY”, stamped on ricasso: “WOODHEAD / & HARTLEY / WARRANTED”. Second 3.5″ smaller blade has full firm mark. Handle has nicely colored horn slabs with vacant German silver escutcheon. The solid German silver front bolsters are stamped with spread wing eagles & stars, rear bolsters are stamped with recumbent lion, “TRY ME”, “WOODHEAD & HARTLEY / SHEFFIELD / WARRANTED” and stars. This was the first folding knife by Woodhead and Hartley to come to the attention of collectors. As of 2016, world renowned knife expert, Bill Wright, ABKA life member, said that in more than 50 years of collecting this and its companion knife being sold in next lot are the only folding knives he has observed or heard of by these makers. Woodhead and Hartley were famous early makers of Bowie knives in Sheffield. A letter from the Sheffield City Library states that trade directories show Woodhead and Hartley working together from 1841 until the mid-1840’s, Hartley died in 1848. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Custom protective sleeve.

PROVENANCE: William R. Williamson article on Woodhead and Hartley in Arms Gazette; Larry W. Williams lifetime collection-purchased 1973; pictured in The American Blade, January-February 1976; and in The American Blade March-April, 1976; in Gun Report, July 1977; and in the Antique Bowie Knife Journal, Spring 2005.

NON-GUN