THE SETH NELSON GROUP OF EARLY PENNSYLVANIA HUNTING EQUIPMENT.

Seth Iredell Nelson and his son, Seth Nelson, Jr., have long been regarded as two of the most renowned and resourceful big game hunters and armorers of Central Pennsylvania. At their home and hunting lodge on the Sinnemahoning at the foot of Altar Rock, famed in Indian lore, they maintained a gunshop and forge, making or repairing many of their own guns, knives, ammunition, etc., as well as their axes, saws, cant-hooks, farming implements and the like. Many of their choicest specimens are now in Dr. Henry C. Mercer's Museum at Doylestown, Pa. Seth Iredell Nelson was born in Potter County, Pa. in 1809, the descendant of a Scotch "kramer" who went to Germany in the 17th Century with the ancestor of Col. John Hay, author of "Little Breeches" and Theodore Roosevelt's great Secretary of State. Nelson migrated to Clinton County in 1840, the journey being made in pole-boats down Kettle Creek and up the West Branch of the Susquehanna to the mouth of the Sinnemahoning, and settling in a community still inhabited by the Seneca Indians. He became known as the King Hunter of the Sinnemahoning, his game book showing hundreds of panthers, wolves and elk and thousands of deer, bears, and wildcats, and other animals which he captured during his long career in the Pennsylvania big game fields. Seth Iredell Nelson died in 1905, and is buried on top of Karthaus Mountain, overlooking the one-time hunting paradise where for nearly a century he was the supreme ruler. Seth Nelson, Jr. was born in Potter County in 1838 and was brought to Three Runs, Clinton County, by his parents two years later. He is today a handsome old man, with keen blue eyes, regular features, long hair and snow white beard, hale and hearty at four score and ten. He accompanied his father on most of his great hunts and was his devoted and able assistant in his gunshop and forge. Even in late years he has turned out guns complete—"lock, stock and barrel" and hunting knives of unusual skill and workmanship.

74. HUNTING KNIFE. L. 10"

Staghorn handle. This is of similar design, as, though of much later date, than the scalping knives used by such Eighteenth Century frontiersmen as Covenhoven, the Groves, Van Campen, Van Gundy and others. Mounted in pewter.

75. SETH NELSON'S SENECA TYPE AXE. L. 13"

This type of axe or tomahawk was designed by John Smoke, one of the last Seneca Indians residing in Pennsylvania. Initials punched on blade, "S. N." Double edge. This sort of tomahawk is now sold commercially under the name of "Nessmuk Axe".

76. HUNTING KNIFE. L. 11-1/2"

Staghorn handle. Pewter mounts.

77. SMALL LEAD-LADLE. L. 15"

Used for running bullets. Made and used by Seth Nelson, Jr.

78. LEAD LADLE. L. 19"

A trifle more artistic in design. Also used by Seth, Jr. Like the preceding number, this is of the period of 1855-'75.

79. LARGE LEAD-LADLE. L. 20"

Crudely made. Former property of Seth Nelson, Sr., the father of the maker of Nos. 77 and 78. Period 1830-'50.

80. POWDER HORN AND BULLET POUCH.

The 12-inch horn is still fitted with the original tip-plug and contains a quantity of rifle-powder, of about FFF texture. These powder-and-bullet sets are now much rarer than the rifles with which they were used. A fine old pioneer piece.

81. SMALL LEAD-HANDLED DAGGER. L. 7-1/2"

Given to Seth Nelson, Sr., by Bill Long, a famous Clearfield County hunter.

82. LITTLE ONE-PIECE COPPER KNIFE. L. 5"

Given to Col. Shoemaker by Seth Nelson, Jr., to illustrate the earliest type of pocket-knife used by the frontiersmen. Of Indian manufacture and of the size carried by young girls for general use and, at a pinch, for protection. Made by John Smoke for his daughter. The Pennsylvania German Gipsies called this sort of knife a "schlor". A similar knife but larger, made by Smoke was sent by Col. Shoemaker, to Dr. H. C. Mercer, Doylestown, Pa., 1920.

83. DOUBLE-EDGED FOLDING DAGGER. L. (open) 8-1/2"

Given to Col. Shoemaker by Seth Nelson to illustrate the next type of frontier pocket-knife.

EDGED WEAPONS, POLEARMS, CLUBS, ETC.

84. SPANISH OR ITALIAN LEFT-HAND DAGGER. L. 20"

Used to parry sword-thrusts in rapier fencing. XVI or XVII Century.

85. IMPROVISED DAGGER MADE FROM TABLE-KNIFE. L. 7"

Blade has been ground down to dagger shape and guard has been added by twisting wire about hilt. Used by an Italian in Williamsport to murder his step-daughter.

86. BOWIE KNIFE. L. 10"

Old and rather crudely made. Wooden grip. Has seen Civil War service and is believed to have been taken from the body of a Confederate soldier.

87. DAGGER. L. 12-1/4"

Apparently home-made. Hilt made from the handle of an old Barlow pocket knife. Found in pocket of Lute Shaffer, murderer of Colby family, Clinton County, 1888.

88. TWO BUTCHER-KNIVES.

Crudely made, with wide blades and rough wooden handles. Used to dismember the body of a girl who was killed in a family quarrel. This was the "Pear Tree Murder", told of in Col. Shoemaker's "More Allegheny Episodes", Ch. II.

89. PENNSYLVANIA MOUNTAIN HUNTING KNIFE. L. 13"

Made and used by John E. Smith, a famous Clearfield County hunter of the middle Nineteenth Century. Staghorn handle and pewter mountings.

90. SPANISH BULL-FIGHTER'S PUNTILLA. L. 9"

This is the matador's weapon of last resort, to be used when his espada fails. Spear-pointed. Gift of Count San Juan de Violada, of Madrid, 1916.

91. TWO SPANISH PICADOR'S LANCE-POINTS. L. 8"

One bears label marked "Union de Picadores de Toros. Mayo, 1918. 75. Union de Criadores de Toros de Lidia. Delegacion del Norte."

92. ITALIAN ALPINE POACHER'S KNIFE. L. (open) 12"

Folds into horn handle. Has the peculiarly Italian design of ornamentation, criss-cross lines on the ricasso. Given to Col. Shoemaker by a former Swiss soldier at Visp, 1926, who took it from poacher on Swiss-Italian frontier about 1860.

93. ROMAN JAVELIN HEAD. L. 11"

Found in excavation for subway in London.

94. TWO BASQUE FOLDING KNIVES. L. (open) 8"

Broad, razor-like blades, folding into horn handles. Both are stamped "E. Pradel, Acier Fins."

95. TWO SPANISH LADIES' KNIVES. L. (open) 7-1/4 and 5-1/2"

Horn handles, broad, thin blades which lock in place when open. Of the type carried by Raquel Meller, when singing her songs of disappointed Spanish love. (Secured at Segovia, 1926.)

96. BASQUE MAQUILLA. L. 35". Length of maquilla proper, 33-1/2"

The Basque national weapon. In appearance, it resembles an ordinary walking stick with a plaited leather wrist-thong and grip. Brass-mounted and tipped with a heavy steel ferrule. When the handle is unscrewed, there remains a stout wood shaft, tipped with a sharp steel point. A really dangerous weapon, in spite of its innocent appearance, and extremely rare in this country.

97. DAGGER CANE. L. 36-1/2"

Ebony. 11-1/4-inch blade, slightly engraved. About 1830.

98. PAIR OF CUBAN MACHETES. L. 31"

In embossed leather sheaths. Horn handles.

99. MODEL OF INDIAN SLING. L. 21"

Made of sassafras wood by Jesse Logan, a grand-nephew of the great chief James Logan for Col. Shoemaker, in 1915, as a specimen of an early Indian weapon. Sling-stone in place.

100. POCKET KNIFE CARRIED BY JESSE LOGAN. (1828-1917.) L. 5-1/2"

Originally a very cheap knife, of the sort sold by itinerant peddlers.

101. GERMAN HUNTING KNIFE, MIDDLE XIX CENT. L. 12"

Beautiful bronze hilt, ornamented in relief with guns, horns and other implements of the chase. Shell guard. Boar-head pommel. Quillions shaped like deer feet. Double-edged blade, in original sheath.

102. COLLINS HEAVY HUNTING KNIFE. L. 16-1/2"

Vulcanite grips, quillions and elephant-head pommel of some white composition metal. In ornately stamped leather sheath. Cheaply made, but of good steel and a serviceable weapon.

103. MANDAN TOMAHAWK. L. 10" W. 8-1/2"

Brought from South Dakota by a returning U. S. soldier, about 1870, who obtained it from a fallen burial platform, along with the skeleton of the Indian with whom it was placed. The remains of the Indian are now interred on the Restless Oaks estate.

104. FRENCH HUNTING SWORD. XVIII CENT. L. 24"

Staghorn handle, ornamented bronze quillions and shell guard. Blade engraved with hunting scenes and bears motto "Recte Faciendo Neminem Timeas."

105. GERMAN HUNTING SWORD. XVIII CENT. L. 26-1/2"

Gilt bronze hilt and quillions, engraved blade bearing inscription in German. Original black leather sheath. In the best of condition and a high quality weapon.

106. TURKISH SCIMITAR. L. 37-1/2"

Original scabbard with belt-sling and red-and-gilt silk tassles. Hilt of silver, with gilt ornamentation, scabbard tipped with silver. Fine. From the Austin Collection.

107. STRAIGHT YATAGAHN. L. 24"

Tapering blade, slightly engraved, horn handle, silver and brass mounts. Red velvet scabbard. Probably Circassian or Cossack.

108. PAIR OF FOILS. L. 39-1/2"

Cord-wrapped grips, ring quillions. Point of one broken. Belgian, about 1860.

109. RHINOCEROS HORN KNOB KERRIE.

South African. Probably Kafir or Zulu.

110. TWO OLD SOCKET BAYONETS.

111. ALL-METAL BAYONET FOR GERMAN MAUSER. L. 17"

In metal sheath. No marks. Rare.

112. GERMAN WORLD WAR BAYONET. L. 15-1/2"

In leather sheath.

113. GERMAN SAWTOOTH BAYONET. L. 15-1/2"

Marks indecipherable except "Solingen". These bayonets were exhibited in this country during the War as an evidence of German atrocity, but they were in reality intended for wire-cutting. Only one was issued to each squad of infantry. For this reason they are comparatively rare.

114. BRITISH NAVAL DIRK. XVIII CENT. L. 17"

Fine condition, leather sheath, ivory handle, engraved blade, lion-masque pommel. Claimed to have seen service in voyages against John Paul "Jones." Called by the British "The Great Pirate."

115. MORNING STAR OR BATTLE FLAIL. XV CENT. L. 38"

Large spiked ball, linked by a ten-inch chain to a wooden shaft. A fine piece and rare. From Austin Collection.

116. NAPOLEONIC SABRE (WATERLOO)

In worn leather sheath. Broken about half way down the blade. Carried at Waterloo by a Colonel Kaetz, of Napoleon's Belgian allies.

117. TWO ASSAGAIS. RHODESIAN.

From the Austin Collection.

118. RHINOCEROS HIDE SHIELD, DAHOMEY.

Circular and having a conical point in the center.

119. TYROLESE BEAR-SPEAR. XVII CENT. L. 91"

Head original but shaft a replacement. From the Austin Collection.

120. SPANISH BEAR SPEAR. XVII CENT. L. 86"

Head original, but shaft a replacement. From the Austin Collection.

121. CONFEDERATE OFFICER'S SWORD. L. 36-1/2"

Straight, single-edged blade, deeply grooved. Half-basket guard, incorporating the letters "C. S." Brass mountings. Confederate arms are exceedingly rare. Illustrated, Plate V.

122. CIVIL WAR SABRE OF 1st LT. HENRY F. SHOEMAKER. L. 36"

Carried during the Civil War by the father of the present owner, while an officer in the 27th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Blade slightly engraved, leather-covered grip, gold and black sabre-knot.

123. U. S. LATE REGULATION OFFICER'S SABRE. L. 36"

Carried by Col. Shoemaker while in the Pennsylvania National Guard. Complete with scabbard, leather sabre-knot and leather carrying case. Blade engraved "Henry W. Shoemaker."

124. ANOTHER SIMILAR SABRE.

Carried by Col. Shoemaker in the New York National Guard.

125. EQUIPMENT USED BY COL. SHOEMAKER DURING THE WORLD WAR.

This includes a sabre on an old regulation belt, a Sam Browne belt, a Colt .45 Army automatic in an officers' type holster, a Malacca swagger-stick, a black and gilt officer's hat cord, a steel helmet and spurs.

126. DIPLOMATIC SWORD. L. 38-1/2"

Carried by Col. Shoemaker while attached to the American Legation at Lisbon. Straight, double-edged, with a cord-effect gilded hilt and double shell guard, one side of which is hinged. The ricasso of the blade is gilded and the blade is covered with arabesque work in gold and blue for about nine inches near the hilt and bright polished from there to the point. In general shape, resembles the small-swords of the XVIII Cent.

127. DIPLOMATIC SWORD.

Carried by Col. Shoemaker while attached to the American Embassy at Berlin. Much similar to the preceeding, except that the guard is ornamented with an American eagle and the blade is elegantly chased. Designed by Charlemagne Tower (1848-1922), while Ambassador to Germany.

ACCESSORIES, ETC.

128. CIVIL WAR BAYONET.

With sheath and belt-hanger. Arsenal-new condition. Gift of General F. D. Beary.

129. TWO ROUNDS OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT M. G. AMMUNITION. Cal. .50

Gift of General F. D. Beary.

130. POWDER-HORN. L. 14-1/2"

Rounded plug in base, with small mushroom-shaped filling-plug. Knife-whittled plug. Octagonal tip. Color; old ivory, shading to black at tip.

131. POWDER HORN. L. 12-1/2"

Rounded lathe-turned plug at base, ornamented with brass tacks. Round tip. Colors; dark brown at tip, shading off in light brown and gray to old ivory.

132. ZINC POWDER FLASK. L. 7"

Corroded with age.

133. ZINC POWDER FLASK. L. 5"

Pistol size.

134. VERY OLD POWDER HORN. L. 11"

Acorn tip, flat plug with ball-head threaded filling-plug, old strap attached. Colors; dark brown at tip, shading off to bright orange. This is age-coloring, and proves the horn to be quite old, possibly pre-Revolutionary. A fine piece.

135. DATED POWDER HORN. L. 11"

Knife-whittled tip, flat bottom-plug painted red, tip-plug apparently whittled from a bit of ramrod wood. Dated, 1816. Dated horns are rather rare.

136. POWDER HORN WITH BRASS CHARGER. L. 9"

Self-measuring charger, evidently from an old flask. Two steeples driven in sides for carrying cord. Rare.

137. COPPER FLASK. L. 6"

Embossed with hunting scenes. Good.

138. OLD PENNSYLVANIA RIFLEMAN'S POWDER HORN AND BULLET POUCH.

Horn and pouch are fastened to one strap. The horn is 16-1/2 inches in length, of a beautiful pale green color and highly polished. Ringed tip and rounded wooden plug. Cut into it are the initials "E. W." In the pouch is a tin box marked "Eley, London," containing a few caps. In fine order throughout and very rare. It was once the property of Major Enoch Wolford, a noted Sugar Valley hunter.

139. MOST PECULIAR OLD BULLET MOULD.

Casts one conical bullet, about .40 cal., and has a number of unique features. The cataloguer has never seen one just like it. Evidently the work of local gunsmith.

140. TWO BULLET MOULDS.

Musket size, for about an ounce ball. Illustrated, Plate IV.

141. BULLET MOULD.

Crude and evidently homemade. Casts one conical bullet. .36 Cal.

142. CANADIAN "TIN HAT".

Picked up by Col. Shoemaker between Baupaume and Arras in May 1920. Rusty, covered in spots with the peculiar chalk-like earth of Northern France, all leather rotted away. Big dent in top.

143. GERMAN HELMET.

Picked up at Chemin-des-Dames, France, May, 1926, by Col. Shoemaker. Only a small part of the chin-strap remains.

144. CIVIL WAR HAND-GRENADE.

Painted red and black. In appearance, somewhat like a modern grenade.

145. CIVIL WAR HAND-GRENADE, MOUNTED ON STAND H. 12-1/2"

Is equipped with a wooden shaft and four cartridge-paper "feathers" to aid in throwing. Label reads "No. 19. Grenade from Ft. Wagner. 1863. Gift of W. W. RICHIE, 1915 to HENRY W. SHOEMAKER." On paper wing, "Patented, Aug. 20, 1861."

146. WEB CARTRIDGE BELT.

For Krag rifle. Period of Spanish War.

147. OLD RE-LOADING TOOL.

Rusty. Calibre unknown. Possibly .38-55.

148. GAS SHELL FOR 75 mm GUN. L. 10-1/2"

No rotating band, as this has never been put on, and with tin shipping head. Painted yellow. Part of a shipment wrecked on the New York Central Railroad near McElhattan, en route for the loading plant.

149. EXPLODED 3-INCH SHELL.

High explosive and probably German. Picked up between Arras and Baupaume by Col. Shoemaker in 1920.

150. SMALL BRASS CANNON-MODEL. L. (over all) 10-1/2"

Wheels, axle, gun and trail are all made of brass. Bore, 3/8-inch, height, ten inches. Can be fired. These little cannon-models are rare. Period of 1812.

151. ANCIENT ORIENTAL HELMET.

Probably Persian. Chain-and-plate mail neck guard.

152. WATERLOO RELIC HELMET.

Prussian Cavalry. Bears the number 47. From Austin Collection.

153. PAIR OF LEATHER SADDLE HOLSTERS.

Carried by Trooper Samuel Barker, 7th Cavalry, of Sugar Valley, in the Civil War. Will take the Colt 1860 or any other Army type percussion revolver, or the 1842 or 1836 Model single-shot pistol.

154. GERMAN SOLDIER'S BELT. L. 39"

Has the familiar "Gott Mit Uns" buckle. Picked up in France, 1918, by Major P. M. La Bach, C. E., A. E. F.

155. CALTROP. XVII CENT.

Used during the English Civil Wars. Hand forged with four needle-like points. Has at one time been painted black for preservation.

156. BARBED AMERICAN CALTROP.

Four points. Made for the defense of Fort Muncy. These caltrops were scattered in the grass and on the trails to hamper the approach of Indians, and were frequently poisoned to cause infection. A rare Pennsylvania Indian War relic, in good state of preservation. Secured through Dr. Nevin J. Gray, former Assistant State Librarian, of Pennsylvania.

157. BLACKJACK. L. (including strap) 13-1/2"

Issued during the World War to the Pennsylvania Home Defense Police. A good, substantial "billy", covered with black leather and weighted with lead.

158. SMALL FLOBERT RIFLE. .22 CAL.

159. GERMAN TWO HANDED SWORD.

(From Austin Collection.)

160. COMPLETE SUIT OF ENGRAVED GERMAN ARMOR, 16th CENT.

(From Austin Collection.)

161. SPANISH MATADOR'S ESPADA.

(Gift of Count San Juan de Violada, 1916.)

162. PAIR OF FLINTLOCK PISTOLS said to have been owned by David Lewis, "The Robber."