History
Whether on a riverboat atop the Mighty Mississippi, or in the smoky dimness of a mining camp saloon, a lucky draw could turn a broken man into a winner. In the days of the frontier west, poker was king with the mustachioed likes of Wild Bill Hickok, Doc Holliday, ?Canada? Bill Jones, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and hundreds of others. In the old west towns of Deadwood, Dodge City, Tombstone, and Virginia City, gamblers played with their back to the wall and their guns at their sides, as dealers dealt games with names such as Chuck-A-Luck, Three Card Monte, High Dice, and Faro, by far the favourite in the wild west saloons. Gambling took many forms on riverboats. Gambling with one's life with the boilers aside, there were sharks around willing to fleece the unsuspecting rube. As cities passed ordinances against gaming houses in town, the cheats moved to the unregulated waters of the Mississippi aboard river steamers. There was also gambling with the racing of boats up the river. Bets were made on a favourite vessel. Pushing the boilers hard in races would also cause fires to break out on the wooden deck structures.
Item Description
A very fine quality American gamblers knife, used as a concealed weapon for the gamblers of the Wild West. White metal ornate handle. Steel double edged blade with the makers name R. Clark stamped in the blade, the crossguard is a little loose. Original leather covered scabbard with silvered mounts. Approx 280mm or 10.5 inches long in scabbard, the knife is loose fitting in the scabbard.
Note*
American Gamblers knives are highly desirable and sought after especially in the USA. As they are double edged weapons they are no longer allowed to be imported into Australia thus making the ones that are already here much rarer in the future.