Rare John Nelson Cooper Custom Thorp Style Bowie Knife 1968-69 11 3/4"

John Nelson Cooper made his first knife in 1924 and made knives professionally in Virginia Beach CA, Burbank CA, and Lufkin TX. He was a prolific maker who often made over 100 knives per month and used a patented welding/brazing technique to attach the hilt and butt cap. John Nelson Cooper passed away in 1987. This beautiful custom knife has an 11 3/4"x 1/4" blade of carbon steel, sharpened top edge, mirror polish blade, 16 7/8" overall with an amazing double brass guard and interesting brass end cap, artistic brownish red micarta handle with brass and brown micarta spacers. The blade is in excellent factory edged condition with almost no blemishes, it is marked with just the name "COOPER" which can be dated to the first year of so of Burbank production 1968-69. The pattern of this blade is very similar to the ones on page 4, the first Bowie produced in Burbank and on page 98, a custom Thorp style Bowie, leaning closer to the Thorp blade. Reference "John Nelson Cooper" Cooper Knives Martin/Basch 1991. It has been said that J. N. Cooper made one of the finest quality knives in American knife making history. This is truly a knife for any collection. Please see photo's for fine detail. No Sheath.