Sugabears Trade Knife. Hey Chuck

L

LRB

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Feb 28, 2006
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I am posting these pics for Sugarbear. He thinks it may be an original. I think it would be hard to say, but I doubt if it is very early if it is. Apparently there are no markings, and I would think there should be. I would place in the last half of the 19th c., right on up to fairly recent. It appears to have been cleaned up quite a bit. What do you think Chuck?

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First thank you for your help Wick. This knife looks like it was cleaned with steel wool. The gap between the wood has been filled with something. There is what looks like a name engraved in the wood at the back rivet. I was told by the seller that it was dated around the mid to late 19th century. There is a belt and sheath that fits this knife well. The sheath has had some hand sewn repairs that have come apart again. The belt buckle is an original saddle pack buckle used in the third quarter of the 19th century. That is how I am dating the knife. But why I am here is because I love knives and do not claim to be an expert but would like some expertise from the forum. Thank you all for making me fell welcome. Bill
 
Wick and Chuck are too of the people that can probably give you more information on the date of the knife than anyone that comes too mind. Any speculation I could give would be from knowledge gleaned from things I have learned from the two of them!
So I will just say it is and interesting piece. There are several things that jump out at me but I don't have the knowledge to actually make a call on dating those things. The rivets, the name on the handle and the filler may all be the things that ultimately date the knife. Any way you look at it the knife is a cool piece! :thumbup:
 
Just going by the photos, it looks more and more like it was cut out of maybe a hand saw blade.
 
If you send the pics of the sheath to me at chuck@wrtcleather.com that might help the dating. Also any provenance to where it might have originated from or what part of the country would help.

Like Wick my first impression is that it was made from a saw blade, but that doesn't help with dating due to the fact many old timers were made from such.
Without handling it first hand best guess is either a mid-late 19th century farm made knife or one made by a 1960-70's buckskinner - stylistically with that ball end grip it is French or Spanish, although the English made similar knives in the 1800's of the Mexican trade with simple two piece grips, full tang, and two rivets. The grip though is probably either a replacement or just local made.

BTW - Wick still getting that other info I emailed about together for you.......
 
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