Patrick Liberty or Death Bowie Knife with Leather Sheath

– The Patrick liberty or death Bowie Knife is a large fixed-blade knife, typically featuring a blade measuring approximately 9 1/2 inches, with an overall length ranging from 14 to 14 5/8 inches.

– The blade often includes the engraving “Liberty or Death,” accompanied by a coiled serpent and P. Henry’s facsimile signature on the ricasso.

– This knife usually features a full tang stainless-steel blade with wooden grips, sometimes showcasing dual-tone varnished finishes, a brass guard, and brass liners. Some editions include rivets and intricate file work.

– The accompanying leather sheath is generally handmade and adorned with Native American-inspired or basket-weave designs, complete with a belt loop for convenient carrying.

 

  

In his address, Henry claimed that the time for reasoning with Britain was over. Over the past decade, the colonies had repeatedly voiced their grievances to both the British Parliament and King George III (r. 1760–1820), but they had been ignored. Henry argued that Britain’s actions, such as sending soldiers and warships to colonial towns like Boston, amounted to acts of war. Since Britain had no major rivals in North America after defeating France in the French and Indian War (1754–1763), Henry believed the only reason for deploying troops was to suppress colonial liberties. As a result, he urged Virginia to form a militia for self-defense. His speech successfully persuaded the Convention’s moderates, leading to the creation of a militia. Less than a month later, Henry’s warnings proved accurate when British troops clashed with Massachusetts militiamen at the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, 1775), sparking the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).  

  

Henry’s speech boosted his reputation and helped him become the first governor of Virginia after the United States declared independence in July 1776. However, the precise wording of his speech has been debated, as it wasn’t documented until 1817—more than 40 years later—when his biographer William Wirt reconstructed it based on eyewitness accounts.