Show me some James Black... Authentic and repro

[Jason Fry]

I have an opportunity to make a period style knife from materials tied to the Texas Revolution in 1836. First thing that came to mind was something styled after James Black. The "Sea of Mud" knife came from the same excavation as some of the material I have.

Show me some James Black styles, either historical actual knives, or ones you've seen or done in that style.

 

[BladeScout]

https://www.historicarkansas.org/collections/the-carrigan-knife


Very much look forward to seeing the resulting JB-style knife (and hope it wont be in the style of the Bart Moore abomination or other Musso fantasy knife).

 

[Jason Fry]

Thanks Scout. I'm thinking the overall shape of what I come up with will say "James Black", but I'm not going to try to faithfully reproduce every element. The piece of steel I have to work with might make a 6" blade at the most, and I'm kind of thinking frame handle in order to maximize the length. Probably do a solid bolster where the Black knives have the silver wrap at the front. Coffin shape and multi domed pins seem likely, but I'll use the Sam Houston oak I have instead of the traditional James Black walnut.

 

[BladeScout]

Sounds promising

 

[Jason Fry]

 

[Jason Fry]

Settling in on this one. One of my explicit goals here is to keep the complexity down to meet the customers price point, so I can’t go 100 percent authentic construction style. I'm going to do a modern style stick tang with a stainless slotted "bolster" fit like a regular guard. I'm thinking I may do a stainless escutcheon and butt wrap, and do domed pins out of the Sea of Mud brass harness decorations. I'm thinking the domes will be tacks, and the only ones through the tang will be the front escutcheon pin. Wood will be some of the Sam Houston live oak.

Seriously quick and dirty sketch.