Liver Eating Johnson's knife

[kwackster]

Liver Eating Johnson was a real life mountain man during the 1900's, and also the inspiration for the 1972 movie Jeremiah Johnson starring Robert Redford.

English wikipedia: Liver-Eating Johnson - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver-Eating_Johnson)

His original Wade & Butcher knife, now in a US museum:



and how his Wade & Butcher knife originally looked:





















19th century Bowie knife made by Wade & Butcher, Sheffield.
Massive and heavy clip-point blade of exceptional thickness, showing good steel finish with a fine struck maker's logo to one side.
In its original red scabbard having fine ornaments and German silver mounts, large steel cross guard and deer stag grips bounding a super-thick tang.
A fantastic quality knife overall and a true pleasure to handle.

Overall length (inside scabbard) : 17 1/4 Inches
Blade length : 11 1/2 Inches

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Him taking off that guard seems very practical.
He made the most out of what he had...

 

[Murphy Slaw]

You got me with the title.

 

[wlfryjr]

I watched that movie many times and visited where it was filmed..

 

[Hickory n steel]

Him taking off that guard seems very practical.
He made the most out of what he had...

In this case yes, because this was a very wide bulky guard that also happened to be a bit thin and chintzy.

 

[Jack Black]

I watched that movie many times and visited where it was filmed..

I watched it again just recently

 

[lambertiana]

Cool if that is really his knife.

I have the book "Crow Killer" about liver eating Johnson. Interesting read.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I watched it again just recently

I watch it at least 2 times a year, It's such a great movie.

 

[screened porch]

I have the book "Crow Killer" about liver eating Johnson. Interesting read.

Me too. Interesting how he was caught by I forget what Indians, and he kicked the one left to guard him. Then he tore off the guy's leg and took it for provisions while he was escaping on foot. Then felt something tugging his provisions as he sheltered in a cave, and used the provisions to beat on a cougar and drive it out of the cave.
If I recall correctly.
Is it about a 10" blade on the W&B?

 

[black mamba]

There's a story that after his escape he was telling someone about his adventure and the listener asked, "How could you eat human flesh?"
Johnson's response was, "Shit, meat's meat."

 

[Arathol]

Some discussion of this knife and its owner here-

Post in thread 'BOWIE Knife or not?'

Nov 17, 2023

But the "crow liver eater" knife does look like it once had a guard.

Unless you weren't talking about "Liver Eating Johnson" who embarked on a vendetta against Crow Indians.

Who else but Johnson would it be. And yes, I think his knife may have shown evidence of a guard.

• Cobalt

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