What Knives Did Cowboy's Carry?

Cowboys in the American Old West used a variety of knives for different purposes, including general utility, self-defense, and everyday tasks. The specific style of knife a cowboy carried could vary based on personal preference, needs, and availability. However, there are a few types of knives that were popular during that era:
  1. Bowie Knife: The Bowie knife was a popular choice among cowboys. It is characterized by a long, heavy blade with a clipped point. Named after Jim Bowie, who became famous for his use of a large knife at the Sandbar Fight in 1827, the Bowie knife was versatile and suitable for various tasks.
  2. Trapper Knife: This type of knife was often carried by fur trappers and frontiersmen, but cowboys also found them useful. Trapper knives typically had a clip point and a spey point, making them well-suited for both hunting and everyday tasks.
  3. Stockman Knife: The stockman knife is a three-bladed pocket knife designed for the rancher or stockman. It typically includes a clip point, sheepsfoot, and spey blade. Each blade serves a different purpose, providing versatility for various cutting needs.
  4. Cattleman's Knife: This type of knife was designed specifically for ranchers and cowboys. It often featured a large, sturdy blade that could be used for tasks such as cutting rope and other tough materials.
Brands and specific models from the Old West era are a bit challenging to pinpoint, as knives were often handmade or obtained through local blacksmiths and traders. Additionally, many knife makers of that time are not well-documented. However, some well-known knife companies, such as Case, were already in operation during the late 19th century and may have produced knives that cowboys used.
Keep in mind that the depiction of knives in Western movies and popular culture might influence our perception of the "typical cowboy knife." In reality, there was a wide variety of knives used by individuals on the frontier, and personal preferences played a significant role in the selection of a knife.

After the Civil War, the popularity of specific knife styles continued, and there were some changes influenced by evolving manufacturing techniques. During this time, mass production of knives became more common, and established companies started to gain prominence. Here are some knife styles that were popular among cowboys after the Civil War:

  1. Bowie Knife: The Bowie knife continued to be a popular choice. However, with the advent of industrialization, mass-produced Bowie knives became more widely available. Brands like Joseph Rodgers & Sons, George Wostenholm, and later, Case, produced Bowie knives that gained popularity.
  2. Trapper Knife: The trapper knife remained a practical choice for many, with its versatility in hunting and general use. Knife manufacturers like Case, Queen Cutlery, and Cattaraugus produced trapper-style knives.
  3. Stockman Knife: The stockman knife continued to be a popular choice for those working on ranches and farms. Brands like Case, Schrade, and Boker produced stockman knives with various blade configurations.
  4. Sodbuster Knife: This style of knife gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sodbuster typically had a simple, single-blade design, making it practical for a range of everyday tasks. Brands like Case and Buck produced sodbuster-style knives.
  5. Cattleman's Knife: Knives designed specifically for cattle ranching, with features like a strong, single blade for cutting rope and performing other ranching tasks, were also popular. Specific models from various manufacturers were used by cowboys.
Popular knife manufacturers during this period included W.R. Case & Sons, Schrade Cutlery, Queen Cutlery, and later, companies like Buck Knives. These manufacturers produced a variety of knife styles that catered to the needs of cowboys and frontiersmen.

It's important to note that while certain styles were popular, individual preferences still played a significant role, and cowboys might have used a variety of knives based on their personal needs and circumstances.
 
Whatever was available and whatever they could actually afford mostly.....and the most common large knife was probably the 6" or 8" Russell Green River butcher knives, of which Russell sent several hundred thousand west to the frontier over the years. In addition, there were medium to large folding jacks that look sort of like what we know today as the sodbuster and the ubiquitous Barlow knife as well as many patterns that we might recognize today. Cowboys carrying bowie knives is pretty much a Hollywood contrivance.
If you want to see what sort of things might have been available to a cowboy, google the Steamship Arabia wreck.....
 
Very nice information here.

Not much into cowboys, but I want to add one point and that is, especially in the early days in northern america there was not so much of an own cutlery industry, a lot of imports from the european market like england, germany, france.
Adding to that a lot of settlers brought and used the knifes from home, as proven by various archeological finds.

So at least in the early days exspect a lot of simple european knives in those peoples pockets.

Good read on that topic, not regarding cowboys but I think there is a lot of overlap here.

20231129-081444.jpg
 
osoverride said:
Cowboys in the American Old West used a variety of knives for different purposes, including general utility, self-defense, and everyday tasks. The specific style of knife a cowboy carried could vary based on personal preference, needs, and availability. However, there are a few types of knives that were popular during that era:
  1. Bowie Knife: The Bowie knife was a popular choice among cowboys. It is characterized by a long, heavy blade with a clipped point. Named after Jim Bowie, who became famous for his use of a large knife at the Sandbar Fight in 1827, the Bowie knife was versatile and suitable for various tasks.
  2. Trapper Knife: This type of knife was often carried by fur trappers and frontiersmen, but cowboys also found them useful. Trapper knives typically had a clip point and a spey point, making them well-suited for both hunting and everyday tasks.
  3. Stockman Knife: The stockman knife is a three-bladed pocket knife designed for the rancher or stockman. It typically includes a clip point, sheepsfoot, and spey blade. Each blade serves a different purpose, providing versatility for various cutting needs.
  4. Cattleman's Knife: This type of knife was designed specifically for ranchers and cowboys. It often featured a large, sturdy blade that could be used for tasks such as cutting rope and other tough materials.
Brands and specific models from the Old West era are a bit challenging to pinpoint, as knives were often handmade or obtained through local blacksmiths and traders. Additionally, many knife makers of that time are not well-documented. However, some well-known knife companies, such as Case, were already in operation during the late 19th century and may have produced knives that cowboys used.
Keep in mind that the depiction of knives in Western movies and popular culture might influence our perception of the "typical cowboy knife." In reality, there was a wide variety of knives used by individuals on the frontier, and personal preferences played a significant role in the selection of a knife.

After the Civil War, the popularity of specific knife styles continued, and there were some changes influenced by evolving manufacturing techniques. During this time, mass production of knives became more common, and established companies started to gain prominence. Here are some knife styles that were popular among cowboys after the Civil War:

  1. Bowie Knife: The Bowie knife continued to be a popular choice. However, with the advent of industrialization, mass-produced Bowie knives became more widely available. Brands like Joseph Rodgers & Sons, George Wostenholm, and later, Case, produced Bowie knives that gained popularity.
  2. Trapper Knife: The trapper knife remained a practical choice for many, with its versatility in hunting and general use. Knife manufacturers like Case, Queen Cutlery, and Cattaraugus produced trapper-style knives.
  3. Stockman Knife: The stockman knife continued to be a popular choice for those working on ranches and farms. Brands like Case, Schrade, and Boker produced stockman knives with various blade configurations.
  4. Sodbuster Knife: This style of knife gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sodbuster typically had a simple, single-blade design, making it practical for a range of everyday tasks. Brands like Case and Buck produced sodbuster-style knives.
  5. Cattleman's Knife: Knives designed specifically for cattle ranching, with features like a strong, single blade for cutting rope and performing other ranching tasks, were also popular. Specific models from various manufacturers were used by cowboys.
Popular knife manufacturers during this period included W.R. Case & Sons, Schrade Cutlery, Queen Cutlery, and later, companies like Buck Knives. These manufacturers produced a variety of knife styles that catered to the needs of cowboys and frontiersmen.

It's important to note that while certain styles were popular, individual preferences still played a significant role, and cowboys might have used a variety of knives based on their personal needs and circumstances.
Click to expand...
Wow.....is ChatGTP among us still?
Queen, Schrade and Buck did not exist until the 20th century. Case was in the last few years of the 19th century just the Case brothers selling knives from a wagon in western New York, not to be confused with the Western Frontier....
 
Largish butcher knives were probably the most common.
From a trade or a suttler (traveling salesman) a "Hudson Bay Knife", or a "Trade Knife" (imported by HB or a competitor) the "mountain men" used to trade to the "indians" for furs.
A heavy "Bowie" type with either a clip point or spear point blade made to order by a blacksmithe
The only domestic knife company I can think of from the early/mid 19th century is Russell Green River.
I don''t know when they started producing their Barlow knives."in time" for the Mexican American War, since there are contemporary accounts of the Russell (and various European maker's) Barlow being used to cut bandages and such.
No doubt at least one "cowboy" carried a Barlow, not just a townsman/shoppe keeper, or farmer/rancher/sheep herder.

The most common was probably the butcher knife, either a Russell or Europen brand, and the blacksmithe produced blades.
osoverride said:
  1. Trapper Knife: This type of knife was often carried by fur trappers and frontiersmen, but cowboys also found them useful. Trapper knives typically had a clip point and a spey point, making them well-suited for both hunting and everyday tasks.
  2. Stockman Knife: The stockman knife is a three-bladed pocket knife designed for the rancher or stockman. It typically includes a clip point, sheepsfoot, and spey blade. Each blade serves a different purpose, providing versatility for various cutting needs.
  3. Cattleman's Knife: This type of knife was designed specifically for ranchers and cowboys. It often featured a large, sturdy blade that could be used for tasks such as cutting rope and other tough materials.
Click to expand...
Nope. All Introduced after the "cowboy era" in the very late 1880's to mid. 1890's.
osoverride said:
Popular knife manufacturers during this period included W.R. Case & Sons, Schrade Cutlery, Queen Cutlery, and later, companies like Buck Knives. These manufacturers produced a variety of knife styles that catered to the needs of cowboys and frontiersmen.
Click to expand...
Source?
Case and Schrade didn't start until post 1895. I'm pretty sure the original Queen was started in the 1890's. and were mainly sold on the east coast.
BUCK didn't start until 1910 - well after the "cowboy" era.

Russell Green River Knives, and Imperial - Schrade (and family) were advertized and shipped west of the Mississippi River.
I had an Imperial-Schrade family of knives from age 5 and up, getting my firstBuck 110 (made in california) in 1968.
I'm not sure when Case was. I don't recall seeing or even hearing of Case knives in the 1960's and 70's while reaching adulthood in Iowa, or in Smoggy Southern California from 1974 to 1980. "Case" was either a quantity of something, a storage container, or a farm implement. (tractor, plow, hay mowers, rakes and bailer, etc.) or Missouri in the 1980's.
 
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not2sharp said:
Most likely, whatever they could find. Mostly basic butcher and utility knives. This was not a highly paid profession, and they would not have had access to the wealth of information that we enjoy today.

n2s
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I absolutely agree. Money would have been scarce, with a spree in town prioritized over paying for better-than-functional gear. I suspect on a typical cattle drive, the most prevalent folders would have been the simple single-blade clasp knives typical of Civil War soldiers, and maybe Barlows. Most, if not all, made in Sheffield and/or Germany.

-- Mark
 
..........great to see some real examples, and to speculate.

Would imagine most were simple fixed blade in a crude leather sheath used for all manner of tough outdoor tasks.

Think it wasn't until the mid 1800's that Sodbuster and Texas Toothpick type designs began to become popular..........and remain iconic to this day
 
osoverride said:
Cowboys in the American Old West used a variety of knives for different purposes, including general utility, self-defense, and everyday tasks. The specific style of knife a cowboy carried could vary based on personal preference, needs, and availability. However, there are a few types of knives that were popular during that era:
  1. Bowie Knife: The Bowie knife was a popular choice among cowboys. It is characterized by a long, heavy blade with a clipped point. Named after Jim Bowie, who became famous for his use of a large knife at the Sandbar Fight in 1827, the Bowie knife was versatile and suitable for various tasks.
  2. Trapper Knife: This type of knife was often carried by fur trappers and frontiersmen, but cowboys also found them useful. Trapper knives typically had a clip point and a spey point, making them well-suited for both hunting and everyday tasks.
  3. Stockman Knife: The stockman knife is a three-bladed pocket knife designed for the rancher or stockman. It typically includes a clip point, sheepsfoot, and spey blade. Each blade serves a different purpose, providing versatility for various cutting needs.
  4. Cattleman's Knife: This type of knife was designed specifically for ranchers and cowboys. It often featured a large, sturdy blade that could be used for tasks such as cutting rope and other tough materials.
Brands and specific models from the Old West era are a bit challenging to pinpoint, as knives were often handmade or obtained through local blacksmiths and traders. Additionally, many knife makers of that time are not well-documented. However, some well-known knife companies, such as Case, were already in operation during the late 19th century and may have produced knives that cowboys used.
Keep in mind that the depiction of knives in Western movies and popular culture might influence our perception of the "typical cowboy knife." In reality, there was a wide variety of knives used by individuals on the frontier, and personal preferences played a significant role in the selection of a knife.

After the Civil War, the popularity of specific knife styles continued, and there were some changes influenced by evolving manufacturing techniques. During this time, mass production of knives became more common, and established companies started to gain prominence. Here are some knife styles that were popular among cowboys after the Civil War:

  1. Bowie Knife: The Bowie knife continued to be a popular choice. However, with the advent of industrialization, mass-produced Bowie knives became more widely available. Brands like Joseph Rodgers & Sons, George Wostenholm, and later, Case, produced Bowie knives that gained popularity.
  2. Trapper Knife: The trapper knife remained a practical choice for many, with its versatility in hunting and general use. Knife manufacturers like Case, Queen Cutlery, and Cattaraugus produced trapper-style knives.
  3. Stockman Knife: The stockman knife continued to be a popular choice for those working on ranches and farms. Brands like Case, Schrade, and Boker produced stockman knives with various blade configurations.
  4. Sodbuster Knife: This style of knife gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The sodbuster typically had a simple, single-blade design, making it practical for a range of everyday tasks. Brands like Case and Buck produced sodbuster-style knives.
  5. Cattleman's Knife: Knives designed specifically for cattle ranching, with features like a strong, single blade for cutting rope and performing other ranching tasks, were also popular. Specific models from various manufacturers were used by cowboys.
Popular knife manufacturers during this period included W.R. Case & Sons, Schrade Cutlery, Queen Cutlery, and later, companies like Buck Knives. These manufacturers produced a variety of knife styles that catered to the needs of cowboys and frontiersmen.

It's important to note that while certain styles were popular, individual preferences still played a significant role, and cowboys might have used a variety of knives based on their personal needs and circumstances.
Click to expand...
This sounds like ChatGPT wrote it. Keep in mind if so that I’ve found ChatGPT pretty lacking in exact historical info. Often flat out wrong, as many points are here. It’s good at ambiguous generalizations.
 
The Steamboat Arabia wreck museum has a fascinating display of knives found in the wreck, (which was a steamboat laden with goods for the Western frontier in the 1850s.) Lots of jackknives, congress knives, and fixed blades, from memory. (I was last there in 2011 and wish I’d sneaked a photo.)

Most of the patterns we know and love seem to have come about when the “old west” era was ending and the big cutlery manufacturers were beginning to be established.
 
Define "cowboy", and how far after the civil war? What a frontiersman crossing the plains would carry would be completely different from what a working cattleman would carry. Just different jobs, need different knives. Same with driving a trail herd up to Montana as opposed to working at a ranch. Different needs would require different knives. Still does. What I carried when I would lead a pack string into the mountains was different from what I carried as a rancher working on my ranch. By the way accepted definitions today: a Cowboy works for wages for the Rancher. So I'm not a Cowboy per se, (although have been in the past), I'm a Rancher as I owned the cattle. Well did, recently retired last month. My son is a "working" cowboy. He works for wages on a variety of different ranches, throughout California, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. The thought that there was a cowboy era or time is not really so. There is still a very vibrant and active cowboy culture all over including Europe, Australia, Canada, South America etc. Sometimes they might go by other names but there ya are. Most of the time ya just can't see us from the road:

lrXRAsy.jpg


1O05zuo.jpg
 
View attachment 2407030View attachment 2407032View attachment 2407033View attachment 2407034

A Arathol is correct in all that he says. The Steamship Arabia sunk in the Missouri River in 1853. It was headed west and loaded with all sorts of goods intended to be sold to western settlers. I believe the knives recovered from the Arabia, some of which are shown in these photographs, are probably representative of the types of knives used by all westerners of that general era. You can see lots of different patterns, many of which are the same or very similar to knives we still use today. I can see some incredible Stag and many different blade types and configurations. There is also scratted bone and lots of beautiful wood. The vessel carried scores of Green River type fixed blades most
commonly used by early fur trappers, people I would call Frontiersmen or Mountain Men. They were not cowboys, but trappers and traders. Lots of people confuse them with cowboys, but they had different needs for their knives. The sheer number of knives recovered indicate just how important they were to these people.

I believe that most people’s notion of a cowboy relates to the period of the great cattle drives after the civil war. I would bet those cowboys were still
using the same type of knives shown here. Cowboys have continued to exist since then until
today, and they still use similar knives.

The Texas and Oklahoma cowboys which I am
familiar with seemed to prefer slipjoints, usually trappers with a clip and spey or stockmen, for many years. Recently, many have switched to modern one hand opening knives that lock simply because they are so handy to use while working. Many prefer not to ride with fixed blades, because the force of falling from a horse could easily push a fixed blade through a scabbard. That could be bad for horse and rider!

(Although I must say that we still
use and enjoy beautiful fixed blades like the ones you make Dave, Horsewright Horsewright , just not while horseback! After all, as the old saying goes, you are not a cowboy until you fall
off three times!)

Cowboys/Vaqueros further west have their own traditions which I am not very familiar with.
 
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Horsewright said:
Define "cowboy", and how far after the civil war? What a frontiersman crossing the plains would carry would be completely different from what a working cattleman would carry. Just different jobs, need different knives. Same with driving a trail herd up to Montana as opposed to working at a ranch. Different needs would require different knives. Still does. What I carried when I would lead a pack string into the mountains was different from what I carried as a rancher working on my ranch. By the way accepted definitions today: a Cowboy works for wages for the Rancher. So I'm not a Cowboy per se, (although have been in the past), I'm a Rancher as I owned the cattle. Well did, recently retired last month. My son is a "working" cowboy. He works for wages on a variety of different ranches, throughout California, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. The thought that there was a cowboy era or time is not really so. There is still a very vibrant and active cowboy culture all over including Europe, Australia, Canada, South America etc. Sometimes they might go by other names but there ya are. Most of the time ya just can't see us from the road:

lrXRAsy.jpg


1O05zuo.jpg
Click to expand...
That bottom photo is something special.
 
Horsewright said:
Define "cowboy", and how far after the civil war? What a frontiersman crossing the plains would carry would be completely different from what a working cattleman would carry. Just different jobs, need different knives. Same with driving a trail herd up to Montana as opposed to working at a ranch. Different needs would require different knives. Still does. What I carried when I would lead a pack string into the mountains was different from what I carried as a rancher working on my ranch. By the way accepted definitions today: a Cowboy works for wages for the Rancher. So I'm not a Cowboy per se, (although have been in the past), I'm a Rancher as I owned the cattle. Well did, recently retired last month. My son is a "working" cowboy. He works for wages on a variety of different ranches, throughout California, Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. The thought that there was a cowboy era or time is not really so. There is still a very vibrant and active cowboy culture all over including Europe, Australia, Canada, South America etc. Sometimes they might go by other names but there ya are. Most of the time ya just can't see us from the road:

lrXRAsy.jpg


1O05zuo.jpg
Click to expand...
Great pictures! What knives do you prefer to carry when working with animals?
 
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