This Iron Mistress bowie was hand made by John Nelson Cooper between 1968 and 1978. The carbon steel blade runs 10.5 inches long and a quarter inch thick, with an overall length of 16.25 inches. The handle is stacked leather with brass spacers and a brass medallion on each side, the guard is brazed-on brass and the pommel is tooled brass. The original sheath is marked COOPER on the back; its two-snap keeper strap may be a replacement. Light marks only, graded very good overall. It is SKU 68667.

A very large Cooper bowie with its original marked sheath is a signature piece for a Texas collector of American custom knives, and the brass fittings and stacked leather handle are all described as original to the knife. The possible replacement of the keeper strap is the one caveat and is stated openly. At over 16 inches overall it is a display knife that will need a dedicated space in the cabinet.

Key features

• Hand made by John Nelson Cooper, 1968 to 1978
• 10.5-inch carbon steel blade, quarter inch thick
• 16.25 inches overall
• Stacked leather handle, brass spacers, guard and pommel
• Original COOPER-marked sheath, strap may be replaced

This knife and sheath ship to your door in Texas with no dealer involvement.