Old? Knife ID

[Byron Quick]

I've got a fairly old Bowie knife. I've had it 15 years and it looked to be forty years old or so when I got a hold of it. Stags grips with three brass pins, brass cross guard. The blade is marked Original Bowie on the blade near the spine on the left side of the blade. It is stamped Alamo, Solingen, Germany on the left side of the blade by the guard. The number 22 is lightly stamped on the right side next to the guard. Appears to be very good steel...takes and holds a keen edge.

 

[Bruz]

Got a picture?

 

[Byron Quick]

No. I've yet to get a digital camera.

 

[Harbinger]

Most German, bowie style imports were made after the first World War. Used mostly as a hunting knife. Not as expensive as a Sheffield brand like Joseph Allen (NON-XLL) or a Wade and Butcher. Might be worth about fifty bucks tops. Winchester and LF&C had a style like yours that would command a pretty penny. Blade length is between 5 and 7 inches, right?

 

[Byron Quick]

Blade is 7 and 7/8 inches. It's not a hunting style bowie. It 's a fighting style bowie...an American style bowie.

 

[Harbinger]

Blade over 7" in length adds another 35% to the value. Wish I could post some pics of knives I have comparable to yours, but like you, no digital camera.
If you ever get a chance, leaf through the Levines Guide to Knives, and check out the bowie knife and american hunting knife sections. You'll see what I'm talking about.

 

[Byron Quick]

Found the same exact knife on the internet. That's it down to the font used on "Original Bowie Knife"

Wonder what its approximate value is?

 

[Harbinger]

Honestly, Byron, German, bowie style imports don't command a high price. If you had one by Henckels for instance, which is the top of the line German brand, you'd be looking at a value approximately between 100 and 150 bucks. Yours I would put between 50 and 100. The blade length over 7" and the stag handle ( that's stag, right?), would push that value closer to 100. Condition being mint would also be a factor. If you want another opinion, you can go to knifeforums.com and question the guru himself, Bernard Levine. He has his own forum there. Hope this helps.