Description
The soldier in this sixth plate tintype is double armed with a pistol and S-Guard Bowie knife in his belt. The pistol looks like a Smith & Wesson Model 1. The soldier is wearing a belt with an oval belt plate that has been gilded. Under a loupe the belt plate can be discerned as a backwards US. The buttons on his coat and vest have also been gilded. The image is somewhat of an enigma. Is it a Confederate with a US belt plate or a Yankee with an S-Guard Bowie? I believe it to be a Union soldier who has acquired the knife in the field. The image is priced accordingly. The image is in good condition with a couple of creases that do not affect the content. Images with large Bowie knives are both uncommon and highly desirable. If you like large knives, this image is a bargain. It is housed in a mismatched leatherette case.
