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 Joseph Rodgers & Sons. This Antique 1890s Old West Joseph Rodgers & Sons Dragon Carved Guttapercha Handle English Bowie Knife is in Very Good Condition, with a small chip to the blade tip, some sharpening to the blade edge, some cleaning, scratching, pitting, and spot patina at each side of the blade, some edge nicking and brownish patina to the guard, some patina to the tang, some light patina to the handle scale pins, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the knife is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features a bright 6” clip point bowie blade with a top false edge, sports elegant dark brown “guttapercha” (hard rubber) handle scales with incredible dragon, vine leaf, and fleur-de-lis relief carved designs and “diamond checkering” in standard application at each side (those scales are secured by 3 nickel silver pins), and is stamped at the left side of the blade with its maker, “JOSEPH RODGERS & SONS / CUTLERS TO THEIR MAJESTIES / NO 6. NORFOLK ST / SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND”, along with the firm’s two traditional proof marks. The presence of “ENGLAND” in the maker’s mark denotes post-1890 manufacture, as 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 beautiful undulating “cloud” like nickel silver full guard, and is complete with the original Antique 19th Century Leather Scabbard in 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 3/8” crack in the bottom right front edge of the throat, a sizable spot dent in the middle front end tip, a spot dent in the upper right side of the body, moderate scattered drying, stiffening, and surface cracking to the body, which appears to have been coated in a dark brown (almost black) lacquer or paint at some point long ago, some light cleaning, scratching, pitting, and patina to the metal throat and end tip, and with some overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it carries a sewn leather belt loop at the upper back, exhibits a matching nickel silver throat and end tip, and the set is a fine example of a very rare, original Antique 1890s Old West Joseph Rodgers & Sons Dragon Carved Guttapercha Handle English Bowie Knife.