Confederate Bowie Knives of the Georgia State Arsenal
by Josh Phillips
118 pages, softbound
Available from selected dealers
SRP $25.00
Review by Charlie Harris,
American Digger Magazine
This is an informative and well researched book, both by use of bibliographic references (3 pages) and, perhaps even more importantly, years of on the spot, first hand intuitive study of all known examples of the Georgia State Arsenal bowie knives. Throughout his years of research, Josh Phillips has positively identified 6 different varieties, but has not been able to tie all of them to definitive makers, though types 1 and 4, by means of logic and intuition, are good educated guesses as to their actual manufacturers.
High quality photos by noted photographer Jack Melton abound throughout this book with critical angles and details well illustrated. Not only does the author cover individual types, but where needed, he also provides photos of other examples to further illustrate.
As far as relic hunters are concerned, they definitely have not been ignored. Excavated examples abound throughout the book and help support Josh’s theories. I personally photographed a recently recovered example that has a 21½ inch blade, that may tie even another manufactory to the list of known contractors, this one located in Graysville, Georgia, where the blade was found by a road crew. Concerning that knife, Josh says, “I’ve never seen a Milledgeville (Georgia Arsenal knife) with a blade longer that 18½”, but J.D. Gray made some 600 knives under contract and as I recall, his large enterprise was located in Graysville and the town was named after him. It’s a fair bet that the knife was made by Gray.” This blade was shown in Just Dug in the March-April 2009 issue of American Digger.
One of the most significant revelations put forth in this book is that the highly prized “Richmond” bowie knives are not a Richmond, Virginia product, as has long been thought, but actually a Milledgeville, Georgia product. It is an interesting and refreshing read when the author explains how this misconception almost became the undisputed truth. It personally reminds me of the famous “Confederate” Swiss Chasseur bullet that is now positively identified as 100% Federal.
By showing excavated examples along with non excavated pieces, it once again proves the value of the Civil War relic hunter. Without them, many artifacts would remain lost in the “Black Hole” of identification, never to be recognized for what they really are.
If there is any downside to this book, it’s that it focuses on only one subject: Georgia bowie knives. But then again, that was the book’s target and it hits this subject dead on.
(American Digger Vol 5 Issue 3)
All rights reserved. No portion of this review can be used without written consent of American Digger Magazine - www.americandigger.com
2009 ©
(Written Permission on file with Our History Project, Inc.)
Showing posts with label Charlie Harris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlie Harris. Show all posts
Monday, June 8, 2009
AUGUSTA ON GLASS by Bill Baab
Augusta on Glass by Bill Baab
An American Digger Magazine Review for Our History Project
74 pgs soft cover
$40 (includes shipping)
Available from the author
Bill Baab, 2352 Devere Street,
Augusta, GA 30904.
Review by Charlie Harris
American Digger Magazine
Most collectors know that Southern made bottles are highly collectible. This new 74 page book by Bill Baab helps prove that point. It is very well laid out with the help of Kathy Hopson-Sathe, the editor of Bottles and Extras magazine, who is well qualified to help with such publishing ventures.
Mr. Bill Baab began bottle collecting, like the majority of us, as a casual collector in a hobby based greatly on chance. As he says in the introduction, “You happen to find an old bottle in a junk yard, another in an antique store, and soon you have a collection that you know little about, except the size, shape and color of your bottles.” Bill is trying to change that lack of knowledge when it comes to the bottles of Augusta, Georgia.
What makes Bill different from many other collectors is his zeal in identifying the provenance of each item, involving time consuming investigations of the newspaper archives and city directories. Eventually, he became known as the “Bottle Man of Augusta,” a well deserved title.
It is the voracious search, as a hobby, that led Bill into the compilation and publication of this book. Of course, his friends urging him along the way didn’t hurt matters either. This book is written in a very easy to read style and an interesting format that tends to keep one from laying it down in preference of jobs around the house that need to be done before heading out into the field. He has researched every known bottle and glass manufactory in and around Augusta, Georgia, and unselfishly passes the acquired information on to the reader.
One of Bill’s crowning achievements was when he proved and documented that the famous, rare and in high demand “FROG POND” bottle was not a Charleston, SC, bottle as had been previously thought, but an Augusta bottle. This was one of the Golden Threads now belonging to the Augusta bottle collectors and a great boost to the “Local Pride” of antique bottle collecting.
Not only does Bill share what he has learned from these years of research, but he also includes good color photographs of many of the finds from the collections of others along with his own. He even covers the pottery jug makers from the Augusta vicinity, giving them near equal coverage in the history of the Augusta bottle and container production.
This book is definitely an asset for the advanced collector, but the beginner should not shy away from it, for the down to earth knowledge imparted is valuable to all concerned. At the beginning of the book he also gives the reader a glossary of bottle terms, a great help in keeping the novice from becoming confused.
As is expected in a venture like this undertaking, he forthrightly admits that as soon as the book was published, new finds will probably be made, making the work obsolete. This is expected in all research books and hopefully there will be updated copies available in the future. It should be noted that he doesn’t give values to any of the bottles. While some may think this regretful, I see it is a plus, as values can fluctuate so often. Instead, he uses a rarity scale in the last part of the book, assigning the items a number from 1 (common) to 6 (rare or unique). These scales will hold true long after any listed value would become obsolete.
All things considered, this book should be a must-read by not only those who specialize in southern bottles, but those who have an interest in Augusta history.
(American Digger Vol 4 Issue 3)
All rights reserved. No portion of this review can be used without written consent of American Digger Magazine - www.americandigger.com
2009 ©
(Written Permission on file with Our History Project, Inc.)
An American Digger Magazine Review for Our History Project
74 pgs soft cover
$40 (includes shipping)
Available from the author
Bill Baab, 2352 Devere Street,
Augusta, GA 30904.
Review by Charlie Harris
American Digger Magazine
Most collectors know that Southern made bottles are highly collectible. This new 74 page book by Bill Baab helps prove that point. It is very well laid out with the help of Kathy Hopson-Sathe, the editor of Bottles and Extras magazine, who is well qualified to help with such publishing ventures.
Mr. Bill Baab began bottle collecting, like the majority of us, as a casual collector in a hobby based greatly on chance. As he says in the introduction, “You happen to find an old bottle in a junk yard, another in an antique store, and soon you have a collection that you know little about, except the size, shape and color of your bottles.” Bill is trying to change that lack of knowledge when it comes to the bottles of Augusta, Georgia.
What makes Bill different from many other collectors is his zeal in identifying the provenance of each item, involving time consuming investigations of the newspaper archives and city directories. Eventually, he became known as the “Bottle Man of Augusta,” a well deserved title.
It is the voracious search, as a hobby, that led Bill into the compilation and publication of this book. Of course, his friends urging him along the way didn’t hurt matters either. This book is written in a very easy to read style and an interesting format that tends to keep one from laying it down in preference of jobs around the house that need to be done before heading out into the field. He has researched every known bottle and glass manufactory in and around Augusta, Georgia, and unselfishly passes the acquired information on to the reader.
One of Bill’s crowning achievements was when he proved and documented that the famous, rare and in high demand “FROG POND” bottle was not a Charleston, SC, bottle as had been previously thought, but an Augusta bottle. This was one of the Golden Threads now belonging to the Augusta bottle collectors and a great boost to the “Local Pride” of antique bottle collecting.
Not only does Bill share what he has learned from these years of research, but he also includes good color photographs of many of the finds from the collections of others along with his own. He even covers the pottery jug makers from the Augusta vicinity, giving them near equal coverage in the history of the Augusta bottle and container production.
This book is definitely an asset for the advanced collector, but the beginner should not shy away from it, for the down to earth knowledge imparted is valuable to all concerned. At the beginning of the book he also gives the reader a glossary of bottle terms, a great help in keeping the novice from becoming confused.
As is expected in a venture like this undertaking, he forthrightly admits that as soon as the book was published, new finds will probably be made, making the work obsolete. This is expected in all research books and hopefully there will be updated copies available in the future. It should be noted that he doesn’t give values to any of the bottles. While some may think this regretful, I see it is a plus, as values can fluctuate so often. Instead, he uses a rarity scale in the last part of the book, assigning the items a number from 1 (common) to 6 (rare or unique). These scales will hold true long after any listed value would become obsolete.
All things considered, this book should be a must-read by not only those who specialize in southern bottles, but those who have an interest in Augusta history.
(American Digger Vol 4 Issue 3)
All rights reserved. No portion of this review can be used without written consent of American Digger Magazine - www.americandigger.com
2009 ©
(Written Permission on file with Our History Project, Inc.)
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