Knives used by the Pilgrims

[threefeathers]

Those of you in the know what did our early fathers actually carry?

 

[LeonWilderness]

Spydercos...

 

[jimmyd1982]

I love that it only took a minute for someone to come up with a smart ass answer.

 

[Wolf_1989]

Although it's well known that most of the trade knives used by both whites and natives during the frontier days were usually various sorts of butcher/carving/kitchen knives, the patterns themselves were much older.

I'd guess it's safe to say common butcher knives and carving knives were used by the Pilgrims, as were various folding knives.

 

[marcinek]

I love that it only took a minute for someone to come up with a smart ass answer.

I hate it that somebody beat me to it.

 

[hughewil]

I would imagine your typical around the farm knives like butcher knives and sheep skinners.

 

[knarfeng]

Better ask Esav. He was there.

 

[ASBOB]

Wolf mentioned "various folding knives". Anyone have any idea of what kind were around back then? I assume slipjoints or friction folders, but anything more specific?

 

[wintermute]

Better ask Esav. He was there.

Zing!

 

[thesouthernguitarist]

Wolf mentioned "various folding knives". Anyone have any idea of what kind were around back then? I assume slipjoints or friction folders, but anything more specific?

Traditional slipjoints and a few friction folders maybe. I know the barlow was a popular pattern for sure, and a little later the Congress.

 

[plainjoe]

The natives showed them how to fire-harden corn cobs for blades, use turkey bone handles, and how to apply a baked pumpkin coating for rust resistance.
I learned that in grade school. Did you guys not attend grade school??

 

[marcinek]

The natives showed them how to fire-harden corn cobs for blades, use turkey bone handles, and how to apply a baked pumpkin coating for rust resistance.
I learned that in grade school. Did you guys not attend grade school??

The pumpkin coating was very popular on the tactical knives of the day. The pilgrims were big on "light discipline." Pumpkin eliminates relfections.

Also they had push daggers in their shoe buckles.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Better ask Esav. He was there.

Listen, sonny ...

I'm more familiar with chipping out my own blades than mining dirty ores and choking on the heat smelting them.

Wolf mentioned "various folding knives". Anyone have any idea of what kind were around back then? I assume slipjoints or friction folders, but anything more specific?

You can actually buy good working replicas of colonial era knives. I have a cheap one with good carbon steel and a spearpoint blade that's a simple slipjoint.

 

[ASBOB]

Esav, can you pm me a site where I can look at these? Sounds interesting.

 

[Wolf_1989]

Esav, can you pm me a site where I can look at these? Sounds interesting.

There's three nice examples on this page:

http://www.crazycrow.com/folding-knives

 

[threefeathers]

Thank you for the link.

 

[Trail Edge]

Good toppic, great link. Thanks

 

[upnorth]

Late 1780's to about 1800 below the Becker. That's as old as I have.

 

[upnorth]

Hmmm, she wont go.

 

[Wolf_1989]

Love that BK5. That was my first BK&T and still my favorite. EXCELLENT large butchering knife, "roach belly" on steroids.:thumbup:


The knife closest to the tomahawk in this pic is a 18th century english trade knife repro made by Jeff White. Looks very much like the BK5's ancestor doesn't it?