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Lot 62

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AN IMPORTANT BRITISH COLONIAL DAGGER

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The single-edged blade struck T. WILLIAMS SMITHFIELD LONDON MADE, together with the Williams clay pipe logo. Perhaps captured, the wooden grip and leather sheath mounted in characteristic Zulu copper and brass wirework, the center section of the sheath with lizard skin panel. Latter 19th century. Light wear. This particular model of T. Williams knife was exceedingly popular with British officers as a private purchase weapon. No less an adventurer than Harry Wolhuter, a veteran of the Boer Wars who rode with Steinacker’s Horse, killed a lion with the same type of knife. Wolhuter was appointed one of Kruger Park’s first rangers in 1903. In August of that year, he was attacked by two lions near the Lebombo Mountains. Wolhuter was knocked from his horse, bitten deeply through the shoulder and dragged 100 meters into the brush, where he narrowly managed to draw his knife and dispatch the first lion with two thrusts into the heart; his dog meanwhile frightened off its mate. Wolhuter survived the attack but lost his knife. On hearing of his adventure, the T. Williams Company presented Wolhuter with a new one. Overall length 28.6 cm. Condition I

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