A man's last line of self defense in the Old West was often his trusty bowie knife. It could not jam, run out of ammunition, or misfire. While the majority of fine bowie knives were English made, some American manufacturers, such as B.G.I. Co. of Bridgeport, Connecticut, “threw their hat into the ring” with a line of sturdy yet elegant bowies. This Antique 1900s Old West B.G.I. Co American Made Jigged Guttapercha Handle No 501 Bowie Knife is in Very Good Condition, with some sharpening and nicking to the blade edge, some light sharpening to the top false edge, some cleaning, scratching, and pitting at each side of the blade, the guard having been affixed at a tad bit of an angle, some light verdigris and patina to the guard, some light scattered cracking around some of the handle scale pin housings, a few small chips in the upper spine of the left handle scale, and with some light overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the knife is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features a bright 6 1/8” clip point bowie blade with a top false edge, sports elegant jigged dark brown guttapercha (hard rubber) handle scales secured by 3 brass pins, and is stamped at the ricasso with its maker and model, “B.G.I. Co / BRIDGEPORT CONN / No 501”. It boasts a brass full guard, and is complete with the original Antique 1900s B.G.I. Co No 501 Brown Leather Scabbard in Very Good Condition, having lost all of the “grip” from the throat, meaning the sheath will slide right off if the knife is held by the handle with the point down towards the ground, and with a 1” line of surface cracking down the right side of the upper body, and with some scattered scratching, spot darkening, and age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it’s stamped on the middle of the riveted leather belt loop at the upper back with its matching maker and model, “B.G.I. Co / NO. 501”, bears an understated line of embossing down the sides at front and back, and the set is a fine example of a rare, original Antique 1900s Old West B.G.I. Co American Made Jigged Guttapercha Handle No 501 Bowie Knife.