Rifleman's Knife

indian george

indian george

Joined
Feb 15, 1999
Messages
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I am looking for the average size of one? (Blade and OAL) One person said that the blade must be over 10". Thanks Guys
 
George-
The term Rifleman's knife is actually a fairly recent term that has in the parlance of the collector come to mean something akin to a long slender Bowie - usually without a big guard but not necessarily.
For a good overview of early period knives get the book "American Primitive Knives 1770-1880 By Gordon Minnis. 60 photos of authentic period knives with dimensions.

As for the 10" blade ??? - Here's one example that Gib and I made a while back - Cactus Rose #1. The blade is about 9" - the grip is bone with an antler bolster and a rawhide braid covering the seam:
knife-003.jpg


Here's another one of Gib's- same basic blade style which is 8 1/4 " The handle has a cast pewter bolster with antler crown and ironwood grip
fk-002.jpg


From teh various examples I've seen the average size is goint ot be something like 8-10" blade and OAL - add 4-5" for the grip
Hope this helps and I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
 
IG,

A rifleman's knife : 20" blade minimum length. Ugly hammer dinged blade with dings left for posterity.Large forged guard and plain ugly nut on the through tang. Oh I just happen to have a picture of a perfect example of the perfect representation of what a rifleman's knife should look like.

Mark

Dscf0014.jpg
 
Old and ugly is the niche I'm shooting for in my knifemaking career:D I'm looking to corner the old and ugly market. You guys just keep on making them purty knives......ha ha ha (laughing to the bank)

Mark
 
I think I saw that short sword in one of the Lord of the Rings movies. :eek:

That's a great home defense weapon though, it screams "I'm deadly and the owner obviously ain't afeerd to use me!" :D
 
Just to reiterate what Chuck(great knives and pics as usual:)) said; here are some photos from from an old magazine article by Mr. Minnis:
gk1a1.txt

gka1.txt

The blade lengths run 8.87, 12, 11.75, 8.5 and 9.5 inches top to bottom. There are larger shots of them hereand here.
Here's my interpretation of one:
ro.txt

Regards,
Greg
 
Ripper-
I remember that knife well - loved it than and love it now!

Thanks for posting those pics - my copy of the Minnis book "disappeared" a few years ago and I haven't gotten around to replacing it. Anyone interested in a copy it's available from Crazy Crow 1-800-786-6210 fro $24.50 +S/H item#4175-014-057.

BTW the average size of the knives shown is 10 1/4" so looks like 10" is a good average. Also most originals with antler grips had the blade mounted in one of two methods: they used melted pine pitch in place of epoxy (which of course was not available or they drilled a slightly undersized pilot hole, boiled the antler and then immediately shoved the tang in until seated. By boiling the antler you turn the soft core into it's own glue - it really does work - try it sometime you might like it :D
 
George, are you looking for true origional type knives? If so most in my collection are butcher type blades and average 10" to 14".

not rifleman's sword

If you look back at my posts a year and a half or so ago I made some hunting swords that were very popular as a back up weapon during the 1700's.
 
Thanks Guys. The one I started isn't a rifleman's knife:( :( I should of ask first. It only has a 8" blade. I should have used the whole billet instead of cutting pieces off for the guard spacer and butt cap.:( :(
 
Was't it made by the same guy who invented the ugly stick

I beg your pardon. I have never made a stick in my life!
 
Thanks Guys. The one I started isn't a rifleman's knife I should of ask first. It only has a 8" blade.
Click to expand...

George 8" is still in the range. Some folks might not call it long enough but it's well within the range of the originals frontiersmen's knives.
 
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