What is the purpose of the knob on antique bowie sheaths?

I believe that it allowed the sheath to be wore under the belt, the knob preventing the sheath from sliding out from under the belt.


I could be wrong though.
 
I remember reading in an article about antique Shefield bowies that the knob was used so that you can hook it onto a loop of some sort. They didnt go into much detail about it so I'm afraid this isnt much help. Sorry.
 
If your talking about a knob/stud on the side of the sheath then I think that it's to hold the sheath on your belt. If you place the sheath between your body and your belt then the stud (knob) makes it so it doesn't slide off but it's still easy to remove.

Rick
 
The "knob" referred to,was to attach the sheath to the "frog",which was the belt loop plus a holder loop that the sheath dropped into.The knob held the sheath into the frog,the whole assy.,was then suspended from the belt in conventional fashion.The knob could also be used,I suppose,to keep the sheath from slipping thru a sash,or belt,if worn tucked behind it.
 
The modern Puma,german army field knife comes with a frog that is pretty much close to the old ones.Where you find a picture of it is another matter,no doubt Puma has a website.It might be easier to grasp the description of frog if you look at a baton holder on a cops belt,not exactly the same but close.
 
What were they usually made of? Wood, metal, or leather?
How low would the knife hang below the belt?
 
Hi...

The stud is made of steel..

This is the same way a good majority of WWII bayonets are done..

The "Frog" or "Carrier" is a seperate unit from the bayonet and scabbard....

German, Brit, Canadian and I imagine most all Euro countries used this same method..

The "Frog" is usually made from leather, the Canadian one I have is cottom webbing. The bayonet slides down into the Frog and is held in a slot.. Drawing the knife or resheathing it makes this stud catch the slot.This keeps it from getting pulled/pushed out..

The Frog is what determines at what height the bayonet hangs. My German Mauser bayonet hangs father down than my Canadian or British one....

WWII US bayonets were suspended by webbing in a much different way.. More like the sheaths are now...

The stud is a Very old way of attaching a knife to ones gear...

ttyle

Eric...
 
so the sheath slides into the frog and the stud goes in a slot in the frog somewhat like a button on a pair of pants?
 
Yep that's the idea, but most of the ones that you see now a days are just so you can slip the sheath into waist band and have the stud catch on the top of the belt, though some have punched a hole into the belt that just allows for the stud to go through to help hold the sheath steady.
I've made a bunch of those style a long time ago and the fellow that uses it wears the sheath in the manner laid out above, he also has put the hole in his belt as well. It's just a quick way to carry a knife without the added thickness of a belt loop, though on one sheath I also sewn in a strap along the back side so he had either option...;)
It's really best on LARGE knives, say 7" and up, smaller knives I don't think would benefit from this style of sheath.
JMVHOT...:)

G2

ps,
The type of studs I've used have been the kind you screw together and also the type that you hammer in a stud into the stud.
I take an end mill to relieve a small circle of leather where the stud screw/stud will go on the inside, NOT TOO much, just a bit, then I put the stud into place and glue a section of leather across that so the blade won't rub against it...
 
Hey, thanks everybody. Now I'm going to have to make a few just to be sure I've got the right idea.:D
 
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