Item:
ONJR23NSTG057

Original U.S. Late Western Gold Rush California Bowie Knife “I Can Dig Gold From Quartz” Etched Blade and Sheath by Brookes & Crookes of Sheffield

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is an excellent and rather rare find! This faintly etched bowie dates back to the later part of the California Gold Rush in the Mid 1880s. It is a very faintly etched single side with an American Eagle with $10,000 bag of gold in its beak, Above the motto: “I can Dig Gold from Quartz” “Californian Bowie Knife” Along with: A Californian ask for nothing but what is and submit to nothing that is wrong.

While the blade etching is extremely faint and can only be seen in a certain light, this is still a rare California Bowie! The ricasso is marked with the Victorian “VR” along with Brookes & Crookes Sheffield which may have been added due to mistakes made in the stamping. This firm had its roots in the activities of John Brookes (1825-1865), who was the son of Jonathan Brookes (a cutler living in Broomhall Street) and his wife, Gertrude. His younger brother was Jonathan Brookes. By 1851, John had launched his own business. At the Great Exhibition (1851), he displayed ‘articles suitable for ladies’ work-boxes and gentleman’s dressing cases, made in steel, ivory and pearl; button hooks, nail files, tweezers, corkscrews and stilettos’. He received an Honourable Mention from the Exhibition jurors. By 1854, he was in Mulberry Street and advertised in the local directories. In 1858, John Brookes was joined by Thomas Crookes (1826-1912).

The overall condition is quite nice though it was definitely cleaned and polished at some point due to evidence of past pitting and oxidation, which in turn made the etching extremely faint. The included leather sheath does appear to be an early replacement and is offered in wonderful, solid condition.

Comes more than ready for further research and display!

Specifications
Blade Length: 9 ½”
Hilt Length: 5”
Total Length: 14 ½”
Sheath Length: 9 ¾”

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