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. The finest bowie knives intended for sale in the American West were made by well respected English cutlers in Sheffield, among the most famous of which was George Wostenholm, with his “I*XL” trademark known for quality the world over. This Antique 1870s Old West I*XL George Wostenholm The Hunter’s Companion Stag Handle English Bowie Knife is in Very Good Condition, with some light sharpening to the blade edge, a very small nick in the lower blade edge, some light cleaning, scratching, and pitting at each side of the blade, some letters in the maker’s markings along the left side of the blade having faded away due to over-cleaning, some light cleaning, scratching, and pitting to the guard, a 3/8” hairline crack in the bottom inner corner of each 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 5” drop point bowie blade with a top false edge, sports gorgeous genuine stag handle scales with deep, elegant, and dark natural stippling secured by 4 nickel silver pins (and with a matching nickel silver blank escutcheon on the left handle scale), and is stamped at the middle left side of the blade with its maker, “G. WOSTENHOLM / WASHINGTON WORKS”, at the lower left side of the blade with its model, “THE REAL I*XL KNIFE / THE HUNTER’S COMPANION”, and at the ricasso with their iconic “I*XL” trademark in large font. The “Washington Works” portion of those George Wostenholm markings denotes manufacture by that famous Sheffield, England cutler from 1848 to the ca. 1870s. Additionally, after 1890, in accordance with the McKinley Tariff, all foreign made knives imported into the US had to be stamped with the country of origin. It boasts a matching nickel silver full guard, and is complete with the original Antique 19th Century “I*XL” Gold Leaf Stamped Brown Leather Scabbard in Good Condition, with some drying and scuffing at the front throat of the leather body, a spot of drying and scuffing at the upper back left throat of the leather body, some light cleaning, scratching, and pitting to the metal throat and end tip, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it bears “I*XL” stamped in gold leaf along the front body, flanked by a pair of matching gold leaf vine lines, carries understated diagonal line embossing down the sides, and exhibits a matching nickel silver throat and end tip, the former with a nickel silver frog stud. The set is a fine example of a very rare, original Antique 1870s Old West I*XL George Wostenholm The Hunter’s Companion Stag Handle English Bowie Knife.