Hobo?

[the rat]

I have recently read an article in Backwoodsman magazine about hobos and was wandering what your thoughts are on the the kinds of knives hobos carried. I kinda feel like it may have been something like my dog leg jack, but I would like to hear your thouhgts. Mods if this is a repeat thread please feel free to delete. Thanks Travis

 

[Blues]

was wandering what your thoughts are on the the kinds of knives hobos carried.

I've got a strong suspicion that actual "hobos" probably followed the timeworn "beggars can't be choosers" axiom and carried what was available to them via finding, appropriating or trading.

 

[Slider817]

As per Wikipedia
"A hobo is a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, often penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century.[1] Unlike tramps, who work only when they are forced to, and bums, who do not work at all, hobos are workers who wander"

I would Imagine whatever knife he could find, wouldn't be surprised if they carried a sharpened dinner knife or nothing, depending on how bad times were.

 

[thesouthernguitarist]

I agree with the previous two posts. If I were in that position, I'd carry what ever the heck I could find.

 

[FLymon]

I would imagine then, as now, a keen blade is something even a hobo would be hard pressed to give up, and probably be part of his basic kit. Even in the leanest of times a simple knife is something that probably costs you more not to have (or to replace), than you could ever sell it for.

Specifically I imagine a hobo carrying either a concealable smallish fixed blade, or a very basic single blade folder. Something like a Sodbuster, or a large Barlow.

A bit of a sidetrack but I think the "Hobo (ethical) Code" found in the hobos Wiki page (link provided by Blues) is very interesting, and if you get a chance you should read it. We should keep in mind that unlike the mentally unsound "homeless" of today, the "Hobo" lived his nomadic life more unwilling than unable to cope with civilized society.

 

[TheSharpStuff]

I am imagining something like a butter knife that was thrown in the trash and the hobo sharpened it on a cinder block. But that might be kind of imaginative. More likely something that is rigged up, such as fashoning one out of a used saftey razor blade.