FINE RARE HEINISCH NEWARK NJ AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE 1850s Start Price USD 4,749.50 Current Price USD 4,749.50 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, September 29, 2008 End Time Thursday, October 09, 2008 Location Fairfield, California See more about 'FINE RARE HEINISCH NEWARK NJ AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE 1850s' Description FINE & RARE! AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE BY HEINISCH NEWARK, NEW JERSEY CIRCA 1850'S Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge Click to Enlarge Description: RARE! AMERICAN pre-Civil War period Bowie knife by the noted American Cutler Rochus Heinisch, of Newark, New Jersey. American Bowie knives are very rare; many times rarer than Sheffield Bowies that dominated the U.S. market place in the early to mid-1800s. Heinish Bowie knives are extremely rare; and according to Bill Williamson, all appear to have been made in the 1850's. I estimate there are only about a half dozen known specimens that have surfaced to date. This Bowie knife measures 13 1/2" in overall length, and is a handful of Knife; a heavy, full sized Bowie weighing nearly a pound (15 oz.). The 8" clip blade x 1 1/16" wide x from 3/32" thick stock has a 4 1/8" false edge on top, with the ricasso being hot stamped, "R. HEINISH". The blade tang extends through the end of the hilt and is capped off with a threaded brass nut. The blade has been lightly sharpened, and retains it's original blade shape with a full tip. There are no nicks to the blade when running your finger over the edge. There are a few areas of light pitting on the blade, as can be expected, but overall, the blade is in excellent condition. The 3 5/8" wide integral S shaped cross guard and ferrule, as well as the 5 3/8" long birds head hilt, are made from separate Iron castings, and the cross guard and hilt are tight and rigid. The hilt is incised with dozens of lozenge shaped indentation's that appear to have been ground into the hilt to help with the grip of this heavy Bowie, and slightly lighten it. There are good traces of the original black Japanning inside these incisions. Rochus Heinish, Sr. became a pioneer of fine cutlery manufacture after emigrating to the USA from Bohemia in the early 1800s. He began by making surgical instruments in New York, then moved to Elizabeth, N.J.; then was first listed in the Newark New Jersey directory as a cutler in 1835. His cutlery factory was located on Bruce street, at the corner of 13th Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. A sign on this building stated "Established in 1825". Heinish was mostly known for making tailor's shears and scissors. The firm ceased to exist around the turn of the century when sold to the Wiss Cutlery Co. Rochus Heinish, Jr., son of New Jersey cutler Rochus Heinish Sr., was a Lieutenant in Company A of the Union forces during the U.S. Civil War. As an officer of the 26th Regiment of New Jersey Infantry Volunteers, he was involved in a charge of Confederate forces by crossing the Rappahannock river, 3 miles south of the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 5th, 1863. This skirmish is mentioned in the article on Rochus Heinisch written by the late, great Bill Williamson for the Gun Report in 1972; and a copy of this article will be provided to the purchaser of this Bowie knife. It should be a foregone conclusion that Lt. Rochus Heinish would have carried one of his Father's made Bowie knives during the Civil War. To quote the famous William R. Williamson in his article on Heinish Bowies: "Collectors of antique Bowie knives will readily agree on the list of 19th century American cutlers who made superior, even inferior, knives and signed them (i.e., Maker marked) is short, indeed. The Bowie knife occupies its rightful place among those colorful and legendary arms of America's Violent yester-years. This most personal of all weapons has, for many years, been eagerly sought after; yet when one attempts to locate a specimen signed by cutlers as Rose- New York, Dufilho - New Orleans, Reinhardt - Baltimore, Chevalier - New York, Marks & Rees - Cincinnati, etc. it is difficult to find a single knife (for sale). One soon concludes these are extreme rarities, which they are, and the collector who obtains one or more is fortunate indeed. Now the name of R. Heinisch can be added to the select little group of American cutlers who made Bowie and fighting type knives of quality. The two knives illustrated are the only two "known" examples, at present, by Heinisch. No doubt other specimens of knives by this cutler lie hidden away or repose unrecognized in collections. Althought thiscutlery firm is no more and all the prinipals deceased, their knives remain as a legacy for the collector. The discovery, recognition and acquistion of a Heinisch Bowie knife should, in the future, quicken the pulse of knowledgeale knife fanciers." Bill discovered one other Heinisch example as this article was going to press; and later, all 3 were sold in the 1997 William R. Williamson Bowie Knife Collection. A nearly identical Heinish Bowie knife with a 12 5/8" blade and brass mounted sheath sold in an April 2006 auction for $9,080 (around $10K including tax, S/H). A copy of this Auction catalog with the prices realized will also be furnished to the buyer of this Bowie, in addition to a copy of the Bill Williamson article. 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