Harvey Draper Elmer Keith Knife with Bone Handle

5" blade length. 9.3" overall. Straight single edge clip point bowie knife with brass guard and pommel, aluminum and black synthetic spacers, and one piece bone handle over hidden tang construction. Left blade is struck DRAPER/Ephraim, Utah, and the back of the blade is knurled to provide purchase for the thumb.

Harvey Draper was born on March 30th, 1924 in Utah, where he grew up hunting, fishing, and enjoying assorted pastimes best absorbed through nature. Though his career path initially took him into United Airlines, a chance meeting with renowned knifemaker Gil Hibbon, resulted in Harvey taking a job at Gil's workshop making knives. Just six months later, Draper established his own knifemaking business after devising new methods for handling the steel stock to reduce the risk of microfractures in the steel. From 1966 to 1982, Draper operated his business out of Ephraim, Utah, where he established a reputation for making sturdy outdoorsman's knives. Draper died in 1982 in a stunt flying crash, but left behind a legacy of making knives which honored America's pastimes in nature. Including this lot, which was named for legendary rancher, author, and outdoorsman Elmer Keith.

From the Collection of Jeffrey W. Sanner

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Good. Blade retains a bright polish with a clean sharp edge without bites. Pommel and guard both show some tarnish. Light scratches to the blade. Bone grip scales are splitting through the right side along the entire length.

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Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Mr. Tim Carey

Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria

[email protected]513.666.4984

Mr. Carey joined Cowan’s, a Freeman's company, in 2021 and is a 40-year veteran of the sporting arms and outdoor recreation industry. Carey joined Cowan’s from Griffin & Howe at Hudson Farms in Andover, N.J., where he was responsible for the acquisition, appraisal, and consignment of top-tier firearms consignments from important makers such as James Purdey & Sons of London, Beretta, Caesar Guerini, B. Rizzini, Bertuzzi, Renato Telo, and Anderson Wheeler.

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Harvey Draper Elmer Keith Knife with Bone Handle

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