Ask The Civil War Appraiser — April 2017

By John Sexton · Originally published April 2017 · p. 35

Dear Civil War Appraiser: Here are some pictures of the pocket knife I spoke to you over the phone about. I appreciate your taking the time to look at them and your input on the knife would be very helpful. Trevor LePrevost, ISA Dear Trevor: What a wonderful find! As you stated, this pocket knife came out of a New Jersey estate and you thought it was something special. You were right. The Confederate Blockade Runner Bermuda was captured April 27, 1862 and among its inventory were 669 folding clasp knives.

Note the “COURTNEY & TENNANT, CHARLESTON” agent marks.

Typical 19th Century folding knife with ca 4” long blade, German silver mountings and horn slab grips. Similar knives without the rare Confederate agent mark can be found market priced $2050. (Photos by Trevor LePrevost)

Note the etching showing “BULL’S RUN”.

Each of the blades was stamped “COURTNEY & TENNENT CHARLESTON, SC.” The manufacturer’s envelope accompanying each package read “WADE & BUTCHER, SHEFFIELD.” Also on this Blockade Runner were 312 razors with etched blades with caricatures of Southern patriotic sentiment. Some were etched with a bull running after a man, soldiers chasing the bull, and the motto “ON TO WASHINGTON, BULL RUN” over the bull. Another had a vignette of Jefferson Davis’ head within a shield with the motto “THE RIGHT MAN IN THE RIGHT PLACE” and beneath the shield “JEFF DAVIS, OUR FIRST PRESIDENT.” The third etching described in prize court documents shows a vignette of General Beauregard with the legend “HE LIVES TO CONQUER” above the image and “GENERAL BEAUREGARD” below. Like the pocket knives, each package read “WADE & BUTCHER, SHEFFIELD,” the manufacturers and a well-known and respected cutler of the mid 19th Century. The pocket knives were originally etched with the identical motifs noted on razors. It is an interesting note that the first and only razor ever found was discovered in Philadelphia in 1995 in nearly mint condition with bright clear etching of “BULL’S RUN”. Your knife has not strayed too far from where it was sold in prize court in 1863 and the first to have ever have been found. The main blade in your knife is also etched with the same caricature of “BULL’S RUN.” The etching appears complete though light in your photographs, but could be brought out better with some professional cleaning. The razor and pocket knife condition for condition no doubt would have very similar values. The razor still in its original box, as illustrated on page 482 of the definitive text The English Connection, by Russ Pritchard and C.A. Huey, 2014, no doubt would have a market value above $5,000. Your knife is in lower used condition with light etching, and would still sell for at least $2,0003,000, in my opinion. I have little doubt a few Southern institutions and Southern collectors would love to have it, especially the South Carolina Confederate Museum and Relic Room in Columbia, S.C., who own the razor and have it prominently displayed among the C.A. Huey English Confederate collection. John is an certified appraiser with International Society of Appraisers specializing in Civil War memorabilia. He authenticates and evaluates other rare and valuable historic items as well. His website is http://www. civilwardealer.com. He is coauthor of the book Confederate Bowie Knives (2012) by Jack Melton, Josh Phillips and John Sexton, that was published by Mowbray Publishing Inc. Send “Ask The Appraiser” questions and photographs to [email protected].