The knives of the Hudson's Bay Company fur trade era

[comoha]

I just finished a great book called "The Trade" by Canadian writer Fred Stenson. It's an epic historical fiction based on the Hudson's Bay Company and the beaver trade in the 1800's.
Utterly fascinating read. The men and women of that time period, well, to call them tough would be an understatment. No doubt knives and other traditional cutting tools were an integral part of everyday life.
Post what you think would've been a good example of voyageur/fur trade era cutlery, vintage and modern manufacture.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I have a picture somewhere of my Terry Baublitz Hudson Bay Chief camp knife, finished by Scott Gossman, which appears to be the most accurate Hudson Bay camp knife I've ever seen. It was Dan Schectman's (I found I have a knack for getting Dan's knives second hand ). I traded directly for a Mike Mann Hudson Bay I just traded to someone else, with Dan. The Condor model isn't half bad either. Dan sent me some information on the knife pattern, and I've read a couple books on the HBC. Just having a hard time remembering the title at the moment.

 

[Pipeman]

I just finished a great book called "The Trade" by Canadian writer Fred Stenson. It's an epic historical fiction based on the Hudson's Bay Company and the beaver trade in the 1800's.
Utterly fascinating read. The men and women of that time period, well, to call them tough would be an understatment. No doubt knives and other traditional cutting tools were an integral part of everyday life.
Post what you think would've been a good example of voyageur/fur trade era cutlery, vintage and modern manufacture.

If you can find a copy I would suggest reading Many Tender Ties by Sylvia Van Kirk . A history of women in the fur trade, Cree women were the work horses of the fur trade which this thesis covers in detail. A great read. Here is a link to a review of the book. http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/10/indianfurtrade.shtml

Best regards

Robin

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Check out this thread.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/985916-Hudson-s-Bay-Company-knives

My pic is of my Gossman roachbelly, a variation on the design of the roach belly skinner carried by the HBC and their customers/traders, and my Baublitz HBC chief model (two "eyes" on the handle make it a chief).

I just traded one similar to this for a couple knives, great user.

I will have to find the name of that book, something similar to Company of Explorers. I traded for the Baublitz at a powwow for a handful of Buck knives from someone who got the knife directly from Dan.

Really good thread on Muzzleloader Mag
http://muzzleloadermag.infopop.cc/ev...91/m/358107751

 

[Jack Black]

Two interesting threads

 

[comoha]

This is one that Vince posted recently that I found very period appropriate. I could see it being carried by a Metis buffalo hunter back in the day.
It's an I. Wilson rehandled in ebony by Tony Bose.