History of the british straight edge knife?

The "sheepsfoot" blade profile has been around for a very long time. Apart from the Viking Seax, this blade became synonymous with Flemish or Dutch knives. Dutch trade knives with this form have been found throughout New England dating to the 17th c. Dutch fur trade - primarily with the Iroquois.

Also, in post-Medeival Europe, there were often restrictions upon weapons carriage by the peasantry. The less "pointy" sheepsfoot was apparently deemed acceptable.

The sheepsfoot form was also popular with mariners as a rigging and utility knife that could be more safely carried aboard ship - not only by the Dutch, but French and English, too.

They seem to have remained popular as table cutlery in England, especially throughout the 17th and early 18th c., but can be seen occasionally even today.

I used to own an original English sheepsfoot with a hidden tang and unusual hexagonal walnut handle and pewter bolster that dated to this period. Like most trade knives of the period, this one featured a full flat grind.

French "flatin" and " dauphine" style jambettes also feature variations of the sheepsfoot.

That said, while I don't think it would have been the most prevalent blade in 18th c. North America, surely they were around - among English, Dutch, and French colonists alike.

As an aside, like most hidden tang knives of this period, these knives would have had wrought iron tangs forge-welded onto steel blades.

Here us my personal bag / utility knife based on the original.