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Post by shotdeer on May 17, 2019 7:56:12 GMT -7
Does anyone know where I can get a historical knife that is as close to PC for 1785-1850 as you can get without breaking the bank? Anywhere within that time frame is what I'm looking for.......
Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this.
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Post by hawkeyes on May 17, 2019 8:14:25 GMT -7
A simple kitchen knife is actually more correct than the so called "historical knives" sold at many online retailers. I for one would pick up a cartouche kit from track of the wolf and construct the knife myself, that is if you have the skill and minimal tools that would be required.
Also green mountain has a good selection of blade designs that have been documented throughout the ages that would suffice.
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Post by shotdeer on May 17, 2019 8:43:01 GMT -7
A simple kitchen knife is actually more correct than the so called "historical knives" sold at many online retailers. I for one would pick up a cartouche kit from track of the wolf and construct the knife myself, that is if you have the skill and minimal tools that would be required. Also green mountain has a good selection of blade designs that have been documented throughout the ages that would suffice. I am just a beginner in constructing knives. In other words, I have just about no skill in constructing knives, but I'd be willing to learn. Should I make a go of it? |
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Post by straekat on May 17, 2019 9:50:49 GMT -7
A simple kitchen knife is actually more correct than the so called "historical knives" sold at many online retailers.
Inexpensive second hand carbon steel knives are easy to find at Goodwill stores, fleamarkets, yard sales, etc. Look for one that can be reworked and has a tange/handle configuration that's period. Once you have one you can work on, then reshape the blade to a profile based on historical example. If you grind the blade down, go slowly so you don't lose the temper. A hand cranked sharpening stone/wheel works very well for this purpose.
You don't need a large knife, and it's possible to do almost "everything" except drop a tree and chop firewood with a knife six inches or even less.
On the subject of knives, I bought a small folding common French soldier's knife without a locking blade at Fort Frederick's Market Fair last month. I got it from Gedney Godwin's booth, and you can get one like it with less than shipping for about the price of a modest lunch. Although it appears to be correct, the knife was probably made somewhere in Asia and the quality of the steel blade may not be all that great. I'm thinking of buying a small carbon steel kitchen knife, and use the blade to make a replacement one for the "French" knife.
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lrb
City-dweller
Posts: 27
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Post by lrb on May 17, 2019 10:35:22 GMT -7
A simple kitchen knife is actually more correct than the so called "historical knives" sold at many online retailers. I for one would pick up a cartouche kit from track of the wolf and construct the knife myself, that is if you have the skill and minimal tools that would be required. Also green mountain has a good selection of blade designs that have been documented throughout the ages that would suffice. Did you mean Green River? If so, they are great blades for the money. As far as I know, the steel is 1095. Few have grips that would be easily modified for earlier than 1820's/30's however. |
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Post by hawkeyes on May 17, 2019 10:46:27 GMT -7
A simple kitchen knife is actually more correct than the so called "historical knives" sold at many online retailers. I for one would pick up a cartouche kit from track of the wolf and construct the knife myself, that is if you have the skill and minimal tools that would be required. Also green mountain has a good selection of blade designs that have been documented throughout the ages that would suffice. Did you mean Green River? If so, they are great blades for the money. As far as I know, the steel is 1095. Few have grips that would be easily modified for earlier than 1820's/30's however. Yes, not a barrel! Easy job with a grinder and files. Just depends on how much time one is willing to devote towards the project. |
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Post by shotdeer on May 17, 2019 15:20:15 GMT -7
Hawkeyes, do you know of any hand grinders I can get that aren't really expensive? When I look up "hand grinders", I get hand grinders for expresso coffee.
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Post by Sicilianhunter on May 17, 2019 15:31:08 GMT -7
A simple kitchen knife is actually more correct than the so called "historical knives" sold at many online retailers. I for one would pick up a cartouche kit from track of the wolf and construct the knife myself, that is if you have the skill and minimal tools that would be required. Also green mountain has a good selection of blade designs that have been documented throughout the ages that would suffice. I am just a beginner in constructing knives. In other words, I have just about no skill in constructing knives, but I'd be willing to learn. Should I make a go of it? You ABSOLUTELY should go for it!! HE WHO DARES, WINS!!! You can get an Old Hickory butcher knife for $10 off Amazon. Look up a historical shape you like, tape the edge up so you don't get cut, use a hand file and have at it ( elbow grease is required!!) HawkEyes is absolutely right in that butcher/kitchen knives are what was traded to the natives and the settlers. BTW, there are more than a few You Tube videos on this very modification. A vise would help but you could pull it off with a "C" clamp by clamping the blade to a table or work bench. If you bought the knife, the C clamp and a file you spend less than a knife would cost and have experience of doing it yourself. Just saying'... The Sicilian |
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Post by Sicilianhunter on May 17, 2019 15:34:40 GMT -7
Haweyes, do you know of any hand grinders I can get that aren't really expensive? When I look up "hand grinders", I get hand grinders for expresso coffee. Not to butt in but here I am doing it!! LOL Look up Angle Grinders. Start with a 4" |
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Post by shotdeer on May 17, 2019 16:06:34 GMT -7
I'll go for it, and hopefully get in some pictures when I'm finished!
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Post by Black Hand on May 17, 2019 16:12:27 GMT -7
A simple Butcher or Slicer blade where one replaces the handle with brass rivets with a pinned handle, does the job very well. Old Hickory works great if you can ignore the embossed marks on the blade - can't be beat for under $20 and the blade is carbon steel that holds an edge. This is a Old Hickory slicer that I modified and carried for a few years. Iron pins and a handle made from a piece of hatchet handle. I ground the blade profile to a slight drop-tip as that is my preferred shape and I have a better feel where the tip is when butchering.  Keep in mind you don't need to get everything completely HC/PC right away - do it as time and funds permit. Just don't get stuck in the "good enough" rut... |
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Post by shotdeer on May 17, 2019 17:53:01 GMT -7
A simple Butcher or Slicer blade where one replaces the handle with brass rivets with a pinned handle, does the job very well. Old Hickory works great if you can ignore the embossed marks on the blade - can't be beat for under $20 and the blade is carbon steel that holds an edge. This is a Old Hickory slicer that I modified and carried for a few years. Iron pins and a handle made from a piece of hatchet handle. I ground the blade profile to a slight drop-tip as that is my preferred shape and I have a better feel where the tip is when butchering. Keep in mind you don't need to get everything completely HC/PC right away - do it as time and funds permit. Just don't get stuck in the "good enough" rut... First off, nice knife! I also really like the sheath! I've have received the "attempt it" cheer already for the cartouche kit from track of the wolf, so do you think that would something to look into? Or should I go with a butcher/kitchen type knife? |
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Post by Black Hand on May 17, 2019 18:06:31 GMT -7
Your choice - it will be a learning experience either way.
Most people sell themselves short on their abilities - many of the skills I attempted in this hobby were new to me and I had little idea how they would turn out. I forged ahead regardless and was usually pleased with the results. Some I tried more than once and my results improved (you should see the first few shirts I made compared to the hand-sewn shirts I make now - same with the first gun I built).
I'd never made a knife or built a gun until I did....
BTW - the sheath was made from a rawhide dog-chew. You find raw materials in odd places.
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Post by hawkeyes on May 17, 2019 18:43:44 GMT -7
  My rendition. |
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on May 17, 2019 22:31:26 GMT -7
Does anyone know where I can get a historical knife that is as close to PC for 1785-1850 as you can get without breaking the bank? Anywhere within that time frame is what I'm looking for....... Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this. Scroll through these articles on my blog shotdeer: woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/search?q=knivesKeith. |
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