A VERY special long knife...

Wild Rose

Wild Rose

Joined
Aug 23, 2002
Messages
1,398
As most who visit here know I collaborated with bladesmith Gib Guignard, who shared my love of the American frontier and the gear carried by those who lived there and then. The result was and still is the CactusRose "line" of custom knives and sheaths. A short two years after we began, Gib passed on in the summer of 2005, but before he did he made this very special blade for me as surprise birthday present. The blade shape and size is based on the relic blade from the dig at Ft. Ticonderoga. While all of Gib's blades have been great this one is extra special to me not only because he forged it with me in mind, but also because Gib collected several old shear steel knives (mostly late 19th Century relics - not collectibles) and then heat and beat them into this 9" blade. Shear steel is one of the three period steels and was used for better qulity blades. I kept this blade in reserve until I finally came up with a piece of white tail antler that fit my hand perfectly - the following knife is what came this special collaboration developed into - Thanks Gib!
sheep-bag-horn-8-2011.jpg

The grip is fitted with a pewter bolster, rawhide wrap, and decorated with some simple file work on the blade and handle, and has some brass brads just under the crown.
PS the sheath is in the works.............

Also here's a couple of other views of the shot bag and powder horn (the horn is a repaired original to which I added the strap and fittings) for those who enjoy such things...
sheep-bag-horn-1-2011.jpg


sheep-bag-horn-5-2011.jpg


sheep-bag-horn-6-2011.jpg


sheep-bag-horn-3-2011.jpg
 
Fantastic works :thumbup:
Every component just matches with each other :thumbup:
And it reflects the period :thumbup:

mohd
 
Imppressive work! And I mean all of it!

Question: (Showing my ignorance of the equipment of the era!) What are the items in the last picture for? I really like the detail of how they were placed behind the shoulder strap.. I presume for security and some protection from the elements??
 
Great work, great package, great story.. lovely all together. I love the pewter guard...
 
Thanks folks - comments are always appreciated (and no we will NOT be singing Kumbaya! :rolleyes:)

Question: (Showing my ignorance of the equipment of the era!) What are the items in the last picture for? I really like the detail of how they were placed behind the shoulder strap.. I presume for security and some protection from the elements??
Click to expand...
Joe the piece on the left is a vent or touchhole pick used to clear the vent when shooting a flint lock. The antler tip on the right is the powder measure used to measure powder for ones gun - one should NEVER load directly from the horn except in extreme emergencies such as while fighting off the enemy. A horn full of powder in the hand makes a nice bomb if there is still an ember in the barrel.
I wear them behind the strap like this to keep them out of the way and to help prevent loss, not so much for protection from the elements - being wet and cold is just part of the "fun" when doing full bore period primitive style living history......of course just like for those in the past the fun ends later in life with the rheumatize and such other delights that come from being wet and cold for long periods of time! Been there and done that and I am now paying for it too....
 
Very nice piece...I'm sure Gib would be happy.
I live across lake Champlain in Vermont, about 25 miles from Fort Ticonderoga. They have some great examples of period "relics" on display, and this knife would fit right in.
CP
 
Wild Rose said:
Joe the piece on the left is a vent or touchhole pick used to clear the vent when shooting a flint lock. The antler tip on the right is the powder measure used to measure powder for ones gun - one should NEVER load directly from the horn except in extreme emergencies such as while fighting off the enemy. A horn full of powder in the hand makes a nice bomb if there is still an ember in the barrel.
I wear them behind the strap like this to keep them out of the way and to help prevent loss, not so much for protection from the elements - being wet and cold is just part of the "fun" when doing full bore period primitive style living history......of course just like for those in the past the fun ends later in life with the rheumatize and such other delights that come from being wet and cold for long periods of time! Been there and done that and I am now paying for it too....
Click to expand...


Thanks for explaining that - never shot blackpowder, so the info is great! I figured the security was more important than the elements and I love the way you've done it! :thumbup:
 
Hey Chuck!
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Gib lives, and you are one remarkable dude my friend. A CactusRose hunter (and sheath) has a good home with me forever. You guys shared something special and that vibe is in these collaborations. I'm excited to see the sheath when it comes along. Pretty special.
 
Joeshredd - you're most welcome. If you get a chance you might want to check out the Cascade Mtn Men's annual show - this year it's in March at the fair grounds in Monroe - lots of this type of goodies (knives, guns, leather, etc.) to peruse by some very fine craftsmen.....I lived in the PNW for many years before moving here in 1995.
http://www.cascademountainmen.com/gunshow.htm

Howdy Buddy -
Nice to hear from you and yep we're still hanging in there....thankfully not much snow this year (6' last year!) but it's been cold 27 below one night with most -10 or so..
BTW - give me a shout sometime - got a question about a couple of items at the Denver Art Museum you might be able to help with.....my email and phone are on the website.
As for CactusRose - Glad you like that piece so well and you do realize it's not only the ONLY modern CactusRose item ever to be made, but is also the knife and sheath featured in my DVD?
I've still got a few more pieces to finish (a couple of hawks, a couple of warclubs, and 3 or 4 knives) before the end of that era...if I live that long anyway LOL!
 
Beautiful period work

I am reading Blood Meridian right now and that set up really looks like it would have fit in with that story well
 
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Wild Rose said:
Joeshredd - you're most welcome. If you get a chance you might want to check out the Cascade Mtn Men's annual show - this year it's in March at the fair grounds in Monroe - lots of this type of goodies (knives, guns, leather, etc.) to peruse by some very fine craftsmen.....I lived in the PNW for many years before moving here in 1995.
http://www.cascademountainmen.com/gunshow.htm
Click to expand...



Thanks for the head's up! I went there once several years ago when it was held along with the WAC Show - picked up a couple of fire starter kits - the kind w/flint and steel, charcloth and jute in little tins. I still have them spread out in severl kits and my truck. :thumbup:
Hope to get a chance to swing by it again this year...
 
Wild Rose said:
As most who visit here know I collaborated with bladesmith Gib Guignard, who shared my love of the American frontier and the gear carried by those who lived there and then. The result was and still is the CactusRose "line" of custom knives and sheaths. A short two years after we began, Gib passed on in the summer of 2005, but before he did he made this very special blade for me as surprise birthday present. The blade shape and size is based on the relic blade from the dig at Ft. Ticonderoga. While all of Gib's blades have been great this one is extra special to me not only because he forged it with me in mind, but also because Gib collected several old shear steel knives (mostly late 19th Century relics - not collectibles) and then heat and beat them into this 9" blade. Shear steel is one of the three period steels and was used for better qulity blades. I kept this blade in reserve until I finally came up with a piece of white tail antler that fit my hand perfectly - the following knife is what came this special collaboration developed into - Thanks Gib!
sheep-bag-horn-8-2011.jpg

The grip is fitted with a pewter bolster, rawhide wrap, and decorated with some simple file work on the blade and handle, and has some brass brads just under the crown.
PS the sheath is in the works.............

Also here's a couple of other views of the shot bag and powder horn (the horn is a repaired original to which I added the strap and fittings) for those who enjoy such things...
sheep-bag-horn-1-2011.jpg


sheep-bag-horn-5-2011.jpg


sheep-bag-horn-6-2011.jpg


sheep-bag-horn-3-2011.jpg
Click to expand...
How come I can't see the pictures?
 
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