Robert E. Lee’s Blade

B

BladeLoverChamp

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Apr 15, 2019
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I was wondering if anyone knew what kind of knife that the famous confederate general carried? If it was a pocket knife, a hunting knife, etc., I’d love to know!
 
So off internet sources say a D guard bowie. Apparently when swords broke. They were then turned into knives. There may be more info out there, but that’s where I stopped.
Hope this helps
 
duramax said:
So off internet sources say a D guard bowie. Apparently when swords broke. They were then turned into knives. There may be more info out there, but that’s where I stopped.
Hope this helps
Click to expand...
I saw that too, but it seemed more like a story being told to sell a replica knife than having any historical accuracy. I didn't see a legitimate source for it.
 
I suspect Rob't E. Lee would not have carried a Bowie knife. He was a Southern gentleman and he would have considered such a knife below his station as well as his rank in the Engineers and Cavalry. Never mind that it would have been out of uniform to wear one.

Zieg
 
unwisefool said:
I saw that too, but it seemed more like a story being told to sell a replica knife than having any historical accuracy. I didn't see a legitimate source for it.
Click to expand...

I agree , kinda why I stopped search and mentioned off internet source. And mentioned there could be more info out there, but i stopped looking. I guess I should’ve worded my response better. Saying that’s all I found quick search, my bad.
And hey you can buy that replica knife for $14.99 with case lol :-)


I apologize OP history just isn’t my thing, sorry couldn’t help.
 
it is joyous fun to speculate to no end.
except that it is by far way easier to
identify with what which is known to
have been his actual wartime edc blade
sword.jpg

https://blog.knife-depot.com/the-return-of-gen-robert-e-lees-sword/?amp
https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/2011/5/10/20190733/gen-lee-s-sword-returning-to-appomattox-va
 
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General Robert E. Lee carried what is described as a very small, four-blade, penknife throughout the war. It was well used and all four blades were broken by the time he donated it (along with other possessions) in 1867 to help out an orphanage in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 2014 the penknife, a lock of Lee's of grey hair, and two letters written by him surfaced at auction in Falls Church, Virgina, and purchased by a private collector, Ray Richey, for $55,000. It is allegedly on display at Richey's Civil War Museum located in Fort Worth.

I could not find photos online.

The sauce: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/article3844764.html
 
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Very interesting. Tough to find pocket knife information on most historical folks. At least future generations will know what BF'ers carried.
 
Mako109 said:
General Robert E. Lee carried what is described as a very small, four-blade, penknife throughout the war. It was well used and all four blades were broken by the time he donated it (along with other possessions) in 1867 to help out an orphanage in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 2014 the penknife, a lock of Lee's of grey hair, and two letters written by him surfaced at auction in Falls Church, Virgina, and purchased by a private collector, Ray Richey, for $55,000. It is allegedly on display at Richey's Civil War Museum located in Fort Worth.

I could not find photos online.

The sauce: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/article3844764.html
Click to expand...
All 4 blades broken! In my first world mind, I can’t imagine how.
 
Decorative sword was not the intent of this original question, I think. I think the 'small four-bladed knife' is more what he was after. Small + 4-bladed to me = Congress pattern, but I'm sure there were others.
 
Would there be any info from any of his staff? Diaries? Or maybe from one of his relatives who also served?
 
cbach8tw said:
Would there be any info from any of his staff? Diaries? Or maybe from one of his relatives who also served?
Click to expand...
Even if there was, most of the time they didn't write down what type of knife someone used because it just wasn't important. Almost everyone had a knife, it wasn't some strange item that needed to be documented. It's like if someone was constantly chronicling what socks you put on. "Today was argyle, even though I really felt like the stripes would be more appropriate. He's still waiting for the perfect opportunity to show off the dinosaur knee-highs"
 
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