1800's ANTIQUE RH ALEXANDER SHEFFIELD MOTHER OF PEARL GAMBLER/PROSTITUTE DAGGER

Description

Here is a very
rare
little beauty. A Gambler's or Prostitute's small dagger made in Sheffield (England).  It was
especially
imported by R.H. Alexander who was a
cutlery
dealer in New York, USA. from 1850 to 1876 R. H. Alexander had the knives he ordered from other countries marked with his last name. In the case of this knife it has Alexander Sheffield on one side and the letters N Y with a stars and strips
shield
on the other side.
The sheath would have had the letters N Y and the shield printed in gold but all that is left is some of the gold printed decoration on the edges of the sheath.
The dagger is double edged and still has some sharpness. The finger guard is brass as well as the pins and shield. The mother of Pearl has some nice
iridescence
.
The dagger is 6 & 3/8ths inches long overall. The blade is 2& 7/8ths inches. The handle is 4 & 1/2 inches including the guard. Weight of the knife is 1.4 ounces.
The appearance of the dagger was dulled with accumulated scum and corrosion. It has been polished to expose the Mother of Pearl and the brassas well as the steel of the blade.
Condition: Over all the dagger is tight with very minor issues such as very fine scratches on the handles, and fine pitting on the blade with light scratches. There is a slight waviness in the tip of the blade. There is one deep pit on the blade. The "crack" in the Mother of Pearl is extremely tight and may just be a flaw in the material. Last there are some faint letters scratched into the guard which might have been the original owners doing.
The sheath has not faired as well. The leather is wrinkled and shrunk as well as worn. The metal tip has surface wear and a very noticeable soldering joint. The brass top is as good as it could be for such an old sheath. The leather received a light treatment of Neatsfoot oil to preserve it.
Overall the dagger is in amazing condition for being made between 1850 and 1876.
Questions?
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By purchasing this knife you are confirming that you are at least 18 years of age, are legally allowed to purchase and possess this item, are familiar with the knife laws in your state, and you agree to possess and use your purchase in compliance with your state laws.
Although I accept returns please note that buyer's remorse is not a good reason for a return and will result in that the original shipping cost will be deducted from the refund. Only
misrepresented
items
receive
a full refund. I do not
misrepresent
in my listings. It is up to you to be sure that what you are buying is what you want!