Some contemporary Hudson Bay knives

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Nov 9, 2013
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133
Hi all,
I was on a thread under JK knives and the thread drifted into modern made Hudson Bay Camp knives (a very traditional design possible going back as far as the 1830s) so I thought I'd continue this over here.

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Pic 1: Dean Hazuka/Montana Americana; was told he copied museum pieces; looks like it!
Pic 2: Top knife Tim Ridge/Swampfox; early large camp knife
Bottom knife Aaron Clanton/Garrett Forge Knives
Pic 3: C. Matteo/Ron LaClair Knives
Pic 4: Pair of Matt Lesniewski/ML knives

I've read the Hudson Bay Camp knife was produced only in England and didn't show up in the US till maybe the 1850s (the above book even states that), but I've also read where a specimen showed up that was US made by a company in existence only from the early 1830's to early 1840s. I suspect large knives like what was called a "Hudson Bay Camp Knife" may have been around before the Sheffield makers and Hudson Bay Company capitalized on the market request for such a tool.
 
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As I understand it, the Hudson's Bay Camp knife was a knife with a fairly specific design; J. Gordon calls them "Chief's" or "Buffalo" knives in the above book and gives examples from several English makers; there was some variation in the design from maker to maker. Hudson's Bay Company sold/traded many types of other knives; "Butcher" knives, "Cartouche" knives, "Scalper" knives, "Dag" knives, etc. In the research I have done, I didn't find any specific knife that was called a "Hudson Bay Trade" knife.

Of all the knives I have posted above, although the makers called them or considered them as Camp knives (except for Swampfox; that was bought second hand so I don't know how Mr. Ridge marketed it), I would consider the Montana Americana rendition to be a pretty close approximation of what a Hudson Bay Camp knife might have really been like from Unwin & Rodgers or Wostenholm or S&J Kitchin, given the examples in Gordon's book.

Although I did not show a pic of it, the Bark River Hudson Bay Camp knives have a very passable profile, but they are thinner than what I have read and seen regarding original artifacts.
 
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Nature Boy your not alone there my friend!
That HJ is an outstanding knife! I have tried to compare that Punch with Punches that have deep Concave trenches such as Schrade or going back to Waterville - it's a magnificent Punch!I have an early Schatt and Morgan which comes close- but still quite a way off, just out of interest I will post the photo's so you can see what I am trying to say, as not all (in fact fewer) Punches have such deep Concave ( dug-out Canoe ) types of Punches like this...

Early Schrade..
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Waterville...
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Schatt & Morgan
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Valley Forge Come close but just dont have the raised sides as Charlie's beauty does!...
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Just for a Laugh- this is what a Punch does to a top of a Bare Foot When dropped and you sacrificing your foot rather the hit on Concrete - note the beautiful -rounded Punch entry :D
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Charlie, I think every time I come across your pic of that knife, I commit a couple deadly sins.
Nature Boy your not alone there my friend! That HJ is an outstanding knife!
I'm glad you guys see the value in that knife!!, Thanks for the compliments (I think)!!:D
I have tried researching it!! It's too old for the current (younger) people in HBC to know about it
and their archive people know nothing!! It's history is a mystery!!:rolleyes:o_O
 
Edited my above post ^
Things like that drive me Mental Charlie - not finding answers- ok...a little MORE Mental than what I am when I dont find answers- so I log the questions for future explorations.
 
Although I did not show a pic of it, the Bark River Hudson Bay Camp knives have a very passable profile, but they are thinner than what I have read and seen regarding original artifacts.

I have the BRK HBC 2 and maybe You could be right about the thickness, but it isn't a thin knife. In my book it is a beast, more of a cleaver with a clip-point.

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It's wellmade, but so far it has not been needed in any real use. So I just keep it in my collection.

Regards
Mikael
 
I had a Condor Hudson Bay knife for a while. It was really an excellent knife, and really cool to have out while watching Jeremiah Johnson. Lol Other than that, I had no use for it. It was so heavy that I may as well have just carried a hatchet. I dont baton knives, and if I chop stuff, I use a machete or axe. I used to it to clear a trail one time when my path to my tree stand was blocked, and it did chop branches impressively but it just didnt work for me.
The Hudson Bay knives are really neat though.
 
Love the knives in this thread. I am assuming that the 'lamb splitter' is a descendant of these earlier versions. I have one of those that would love to be restored. They are impressive.
 
I have a Bark River Hudson Bay knife.... it is my Thanksgiving turkey carving knife!
 
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Here a few of my modern interpretations of a Hudson Bay knives. The HB are from Wolf Creek Forge, ML Knives ( 2nd & 3rd from top in second pic), Swamp Fox 4th from top, my JK Hudson Bay with 7 inch blade, and a Montana Americana small Hudson Bay.
 
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