Knives from old west

[veedreen]

What knives were used in the old west ??.

 

[shane45-1911]

Let's define "the old west" as early 1800's - 1900.

Most knives were hand-made by ferriers, iron and blacksmiths, and they would have been fixed blades. This includes Jim Bowie's knife, which most likely resembled a modern kitchen/butcher knife, and not necessarily the Hollywood-inspired vision of his knife and today's "Bowie" knives.

In the late 1800's, companies like Case were making folding knives but I can't speak to how popular (or affordable) they were to the general townsfolk and cowboys of the time.

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

Kind of a broad question but the quick easy answer is lots of commercial butcher knives from England and later American makers. The vast majority of Bowie knives were imported from England but there were also a few skilled American makers. Folding knives is whole different category but universally used.

 

[GB940Rookie]

Russel Barlows like this one were manufactured from 1875 to 1933.
Not early old west, but were available during the hay day of people like Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday.

 

[Arathol]

Look up "wreck of the steamship Arabia".....

 

[shane45-1911]

Look up "wreck of the steamship Arabia".....

I did, but not seeing anything about knives?

 

[Wild Ben]

From the “Arabia”. Sank in the Missouri River in 1856. They had “real” knives back in the old days, too!

 

[catspa]

Western Cutlery, of course. I’m defining the old west as starting in 1934, when H.C.Platts got the split tang patent, and lasting until 1984, when Coleman bought them out. My personal favorite was always the L39.

Those are neat pictures, but I don’t see any with scimitar blades. You’d think Arabians would be all about that.

No pocket clips or thumbstuds either. How did they ever get by?

Parker

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

View attachment 2109281View attachment 2109282
From the “Arabia”. Sank in the Missouri River in 1856. They had “real” knives back in the old days, too!

I found it interesting there is a classic long bolster barlow knife in that group from 1856. I thought that pattern was post Civil War. It pretty obvious they were sending lots of folding knifes to the frontier though.

 

[JC972]

View attachment 2109281View attachment 2109282
From the “Arabia”. Sank in the Missouri River in 1856. They had “real” knives back in the old days, too!

It’s fun to look at those photos and see the patterns from way back when. Thanks for those photos!

 

[Arathol]

I found it interesting there is a classic long bolster barlow knife in that group from 1856. I thought that pattern was post Civil War. It pretty obvious they were sending lots of folding knifes to the frontier though.

I'm pretty sure the barlow pattern dates to the late 17th century.

 

[cbach8tw]

i think they are Barlow references in Twain’s Tom Sawyer book, which I looked up was published in 1876. I may have that wrong but I recall talk about a Barlow in a conversation.

 

[Arathol]

i think they are Barlow references in Twain’s Tom Sawyer book, which I looked up was published in 1876. I may have that wrong but I recall talk about a Barlow in a conversation.

Tom was presented a "sure enough" Barlow by his cousin Mary in chapter 4.

 

[Sibyrnes]

View attachment 2109281View attachment 2109282
From the “Arabia”. Sank in the Missouri River in 1856. They had “real” knives back in the old days, too!

Wow! Thanks for posting those great photos and the sinking of the Arabia. I had never heard that story and you got my curiosity up. Turns out that boat was made in Brownsville, Pa. on the Monongahela river where my dad grew up. Those knives are very impressive - I never knew knifes were that advanced back then.