Civil War Teardrop

[SubSpace]

While visiting the Museum of the Confederacy in downtown Richmond, VA, I came across this teardrop jack in one of the exhibits. It belonged to a confederate infantryman and I apologize for the poor photos. It was under glass and in poor lighting, but the wood handle (ebony? It looks lighter...) has the name "Adam" carved into it. Looks a lot like the one Mr. Bose has designed for Case.

It is a two blade jack. You can see the secondary blade is broken.

Can't tell you how bad I wanted to take it home with me.

 

[scruffuk]

Wow! I love the slender look of this teardrop....but the worn in, now seax-like blade, is even more striking to me.

Thanks for sharing.

I'm not surprised you wanted to spirit that one away

 

[AddictedToGear]

Really like the teardrop design. Very cool to see an old blade.

 

[Gevonovich]

Very interesting and beautiful! Thanks for letting us in on this wonder.

 

[Will Power]

Would be nice to be able to see the tang stamps, the irony is that it could well have been a Sheffield knife. Very tidy example, most appreciated!

 

[Toddwalla]

Thanks for this! As a teacher of history and a lover of traditional knives, this is right up my alley!

 

[Old & In The Way]

You've managed to combine two of my interests, knives and history. Very cool, thanks for posting! :thumbup:

 

[Beard&Owl]

That is awesome, thanks for sharing that! Teardrops are a great pattern.

 

[black mamba]

This one has particularly graceful curves to it . . . very nice!

 

[mnblade]

I've been to that museum and seen that knife! Thanks for reminding me about it. Fascinating stuff

-- Mark

 

[Faiaoga]

nice. I am not familiar with this design. Does the knife have some kind of locking device on it?

 

[waynorth]

Very interesting pattern! Even more teardrop-shaped than a more modern teardrop knife!

 

[mnblade]

nice. I am not familiar with this design. Does the knife have some kind od locking device on it?

I think what you're looking as isn't a lock, but what remains of the broken-off secondary blade.

It's really something to think of how many mundane little life-chores this simple, sturdy knife took care of for some soldier back in the 1860s. I bet every single day it cut up bacon, stirred coffee, skinned out small game, sliced off a plug of tobacco or reamed out a pipe, sharpened the points on a Cheval de frise, or just simply whittled on a stick to help pass the time of day. And before the war, odds are it rode in pocket back home on the farm.

-- Mark

 

[VCM3]

I agree it looks like he Case . T.Bose new knife out. Thanks for post in this,very cool

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for taking the trouble to post this

 

[Over/under]

Very interesting. I used to reenact when I was younger and finding authentic personal items such as knives was very hard. I carried an original bayonet because the reproductions were not marked correctly and were made of pot metal. I took a lot of pride in my impressions and made sure my uniforms, equipment, and personal items were as authentic as possible for the time period.

With that said, the first time I bought a GEC boys knife, with a few minor modifications, I immediately thought it would make a great 1860s jack knife. I can easily see a Johnny in the trenches of Petersburg whittling a piece of a hardtack box or a Yank at Antietam slicing an Maryland apple with one.

 

[Markesharp]

What is the major difference between the Teardrop and Bullet End knife? Thanks.

 

[arrowhd]

I'm a little jealous. I've been wanting to visit that museum for some time now. Very neat knife!

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I really like the shape on that one.

 

[Arredondo]

The blade looks almost leaf shaped and complements the teardrop handle. Thanks for sharing it; looks like Richmond goes on the travel list.

Another cracker,
Tom