A skinner knife by Michael Price of San Francisco, made around the 1860s. The blade measures 4 1/4 inches on an 8-inch overall length and has taken on a dark gray patina. The ricasso is stamped M. PRICE. The handles are ivory and in good condition, and the knife retains its original sheath. According to the supplier, this exact knife is illustrated in Bernard Levine's book Knifemakers of Old San Francisco.

Price arrived in San Francisco in 1856 and was making knives by 1858, and he is named alongside Will and Fink among the well-known makers of that city. For an Illinois collector of antique American knives, a marked Price skinner with ivory handles, its original sheath and a published reference is a documented piece rather than an attribution. It belongs in a case, not a hunting pack; keep the ivory away from heat and direct sun and leave the patina on the blade alone.

Key features

• Michael Price, San Francisco, circa 1860s
• 4 1/4-inch blade, 8 inches overall
• Ricasso marked M. PRICE
• Ivory handles in good condition, original sheath
• Pictured in Knifemakers of Old San Francisco

This knife ships to your door in Illinois with its sheath, as a collector's item.