Samuel Bell Bowie on Roadshow

[T.C.Albert]

Like many, I love Bowie knives and was pretty excited to see one on the Antiques Roadshow this week. In fact it was a late Samuel Bell bowie. It was good stuff until the dealer explained how he would not show the back side of the piece because it contained an authentic Samuel Bell mark. He reasoned that nobody but a hand full of those in the know should ever have access to this mark to avoid fakes hitting the market. Great idea, but with logic like that how could a collector avoid getting burned with a fake mark right now? If he had just not mentioned it all would have been cool, but when he did and bluntly stated his reason for with holding it, I felt cheated. Anybody else have a take on this?
tca

[jdm]

I 'm not a big time Bowie collector but I like them. It would be my guess that the Bowie knife books would have  makers marks and other information. Hiding it from interested viewers wont stop a faker.  If big money is involved the faker will do his research first.  JIM

[pathfinder]

90% of the appraisers are bloatted self deluded a-holes who cant do,so they yap for a living.

They really think they are better than they really are. Yeah,I've delt with them.

[MarkEngraver]

Hey Pathfinder ! tell us what you REALLY  think !! 

[pathfinder]

This is a family forum!

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I've got a Samuel Bowie copy made by Hanwei.  It's a lovely piece of work.  How does it compare with what you saw on TV?

[T.C.Albert]

Taylor...the one on PBS was a later example of his work...Texas era maybe...it was a  different  style than yours...you can google the episode and get a look at the whole appraisal...search for Samuel Bell bowie knife on Antiques Roadshow...


That Hanwei  is a nice looking knife...
tca

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Thanks TC.  At one time, Hanwei did a series of Bowie knives - about six different styles.  I think they are no longer available, though I hope I'm wrong.  This knife is flat ground from its + 1/4" spine to the edge.  It has a reinforced tip for thrusting through tough stuff, is of very good steel, and has a great edge.  We aren't allowed to carry sidearms here, so it is my back-up when I hunt with muzzle loading guns.

[Pete G.]

I saw the show and wasn't sure quite what to think of not showing the back. Probably a good idea overall I guess. A collector should know the mark before he plunks down some serious cash, and since the mark is what made the knife so valuable, perhaps they were right. It certainly added some intrigue to the segment.

[Habu]

From comments on another forum, it seems the markings were engraved, not stamped.  There is some concern that if the style of engraving were common knowledge, it would be easier for fakers. 

TC, PM sent

[Mike L]

I watched that episode also, interesting. I agree with not showing the mark. I did check 2 books I have, they show 3 pictures of the early Knoxville mark. I found none with the Texas mark.