Hi again. I am primarily interested in gaining information concerning the San Francisco Will & Fink knife makers who made bowie knives during the gold rush period 1849-1853 and not the Will & Finck knife makers who came later. The Will & Finck San Francisco knife makers didn't start operating until 1863 long after the gold rush period had ended.

Any historical San Francisco information concerining the earlier knife making team of Will & Fink would be greatly appreciated. As I have been lead to believe the Gold Rush knife making Team of Will & Fink made a large Bowie Knife emblazoned with gold rush slogans including CALIFORNIS BOWIE KNIFE.

Thanks.

-- Charles F. Lee (clee827514@aol.com), October 11, 2004

Answers

United Cutlery makes a 'Will & Fink', Horsehead, Folding Bowie, 5 3/8” closed, 9 3/8” overall length, hardwood handle with fancy 19th Century NS horsehead bolster. It goes for about ten bucks on e-bay.

-- strange (stranger@yahoo.com), October 11, 2004.

Authentic American bowies never have etched blades, except for some of the knives made by two Massachusetts sword companies, Ames and Roby.-- at least not until the late 1920s. By contrast many Sheffield bowie knives have decorative etching, of pictures, slogans, logos, etc.. - Bernard R. Levine

Knifemakers Of Old San Francisco by Bernard R. Levine.

Thanks for posting this thread. It appears I know more about knives then I ever thought possible. Sadly, I still can't locate the name Will & Fink, except through Levine's book keywords: California knife, California knives, push dagger, punch dagger, push dirk, Michael Price, M. Price, Will & Fink, Wills & Fink, Wills & Finck, Hugh McConnell. Perhaps the information you desire can be found in his book.

-- strange (stranger@yahoo.com), October 11, 2004.