Early American Knives

Examples from a great old book I found detailing early American knife types. It's also a nice way to show what researching the history of weapons was like before the internet. Thumbing through this really takes me back.

[@Stoney327]

As a primitive knife maker, this video resource is very greatly appreciated. Thank you. Stoney: at The Mountain Man Emporium

[@ObjectHistory]

That’s amazing to hear, thanks!

[@killerkraut9179]

@@ObjectHistory Old Bocks have still his worth web sites can be deleted and all informations arent available in the web

[@ObjectHistory]

@@killerkraut9179 Very true. I have many books on my shelves with info I can't find online.

[@killerkraut9179]

@@ObjectHistory Its always good to have something hand tight.

[@JunkyardFox]

This is one of my favorite videos on KZbin. I come back to rewatch it every few months.

[@ObjectHistory]

That’s amazing. So glad you find it useful.

[@moneystewart5257]

Thanks for sharing, I really like weapons history, especially knives.

[@thegreyghost2789]

I own that book and spent many hours reading and studying the pictures, still glance at it from time to time, thanks for the video.

[@jimshady07]

Some of the early knives have a germanic look too in my opinion. Very interesting video thank you for takign the time to do this. All the best Jim

[@ObjectHistory]

Thanks Jim. Interesting observation, I don’t know enough about them to say.

[@coleparker]

Being 66 years old myself, book research is how I started out in career as an Archaeologist

[@dannyb2783]

Every young archaeologist ends up as a artifact!

[@JunkyardFox]

Excellent video. I love knives and history do this video is a favorite of mine. Would like to see more.

[@OnTheRiver66]

Wow! What a book! I have a book on American knives but these were not in there. Great pictured! Thank you! Great video!

[@ObjectHistory]

Glad you liked the video.

[@ArizonaGhostriders]

I must have missed this episode. Great book with nice illustrations. Love the history.

[@murphylhunn]

I feel a lot better about my old work now, modern tools and stock really make a difference

[@ObjectHistory]

I can imagine!

[@MrEdium]

This is an Excellent book review on knives. Thank You for Sharing.

[@ObjectHistory]

Thank you

[@Katana-Karl]

Man you have a gret channel. Loving it so far. Can you tell I'm binge watching? Lol

[@ObjectHistory]

Very pleased to read that buddy!

[@donfierro777]

Great video even Better Book!!!!

[@Stoney327]

Hello Me again.. Stoney. I can't tear myself away from this video. This is about the 5th. time I've watched it. Each time I come away with some new insights that I missed in previous viewings. I just stared making Bowie knives, so this video is especially interesting to me. Please do more in the future. Maybe specializing in a specific knife type/time period in each video. Especially the fur trade era in America. Thanks for reading this. God bless: Stoney at The Mountain Man Emporium

[@ObjectHistory]

That was amazing to read. Thanks

[@CuttingEdgetools]

Great Book. I have it in my library. American Primitive are my favorites 🇺🇸

[@DoloresVillatoro-ho5jg]

That first knife reminds me of a Becker BK9. A very modern American knife, and a very good one too.

[@paullytle246]

Great interesting video

[@searcher7478]

Truly enjoyed this Thank You SO MUCH!

[@ObjectHistory]

Thanks for watching!

[@ObjectHistory]

That's awesome to read. Thanks!

[@lanced3256]

WOW!! Great post, thanks for bringing this to us. That book looks amazing. I am not much of a recreational reader but I am a knife nut and I would probably spend hours buried in a book like that truthfully that book is probably a better resource for knife history than the internet. You just get slammed with adds. Best 9 minutes I spent today!! Thanks again LD

[@ObjectHistory]

Ha. My pleasure.

[@mattvanderwalt6220]

Great video. Note the first double edged 'combat' knife could very likely just be a double edged hunting knife (not to say it wouldn't be used for self protection). They have been popular for hunting in Europe for centuries - and are still commonly available today. Simply having 2 edges so when the one gets blunt you can simply switch over - but also as a 'finishing' knife to end injured animals (these knives can be quite large and resemble what we'd consider as combat knives (imagine dealing with an injured boar).

[@jessehemphill9406]

I got an autographed copy of this! Such a great book

[@ObjectHistory]

Very cool

[@0351nick-ch8ee]

Well done. Keep em coming.

[@ObjectHistory]

Thank You

[@archiebunker3686]

Thanks for the awesome service you have gained a subscriber

[@ObjectHistory]

Thanks very much!

[@DansHouse2022]

Hi, thanks for this video! I am a Minuteman reenactor. Like many of the guys in my organization, we are acquiring items for our outfit over time. Sadly the hardest items to get ahold of are authentic looking knives (e.g., they have some plastic or modern looking screws on them). I recently met custom knife maker, who I am considering asking if he could make some period knives. I've been doing some research online on what types of knives did they have back then, and that too has been hard. I found a recommendation for this book. I am considering getting this book now!

[@ObjectHistory]

Awesome. An accurate period recreation would be pretty sweet.

[@FireCreekForge]

Thanks for the review, I found a copy and bought it.

[@ObjectHistory]

Very cool!

[@dto7321]

Dude awesome Video

[@ObjectHistory]

Thank You

[@dobypilgrim6160]

Super. Thanks for this.

[@ObjectHistory]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@pattreadwell6149]

Thank you for the research

[@ObjectHistory]

My pleasure. Thank you for watching.

[@larrywhite6637]

I had this book, gave it to a nephew (big mistake), but now all I have left is Power Horns and their Architecture, The Ketucky Rifle Hunting Pouch, both by Madison Grant and American Primitive Knives 1770 - 1870, Gordon B. Minnis. Funny how mistakes are identified. Oh well.

[@KnifeCrazzzzy]

Super interesting!

[@ObjectHistory]

Thank you.

[@longrider42]

That knife at 7:45, is known as a Green River butcher knife, favored by mountain men. And still made today. How do I know, I have one.

[@ObjectHistory]

Nice

[@gretashapiro4118]

Really cool

[@samnelson4975]

Daggers also serve for a coup de gras on injured game or livestock.

[@robertayoder2063]

Sure

[@ovidiocalvet]

I'm wondering if you know the steel on that knives? . I know the carbon steel in a real process appears on 1856 , but did you know more about the steel ?

[@ObjectHistory]

Sorry, don't have any information on that. It's outside my area of expertise.

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Great Book to own. Authentic Early American Bowies and frontier knives are much more Scarce than Sheffield imports. Very early fur trade imports and Pre Civil War/Gold rush Era Sheffield knives are much more scarce. I like the Primitive American Knives over most all of the Sheffield’s. Any Early American Frontier Knife pre 1890’ that is maker Marked is a Treasure. California Gold Rush knives are in a league of their own.

[@ObjectHistory]

Good point about the imports. Speaking of the Gold Rush, what at least to my understanding is called the San Francisco style Bowie knife is an antique type I definitely want to acquire one day.

[@ACOUSTIC_4LOVE]

Object History -I think most of us would love to have a Price,’ MCConnel’ or Will & Finck. I don’t and never will-but I guess next best thing is a good Book with nice pics of em🇺🇸

[@someone-wx8by]

The trapper with the long rifle for me has a very interesting knife (couldn't unterstand the guy's name - sorry, I am German - ), but would you let me know the blade length, please? Thanks in advance.

[@raphlvlogs271]

Knife design evolved significantly through out history.

[@powerplay4real174]

Yeah they was very decorative in those days

[@joejones9520]

good book but he is calling steel "wrought iron" thruout the book. Wrought iron is not steel and cannot be used for a knife because it is pure iron and very soft, it cant be hardened. Ignore this and it's a good book but you do wonder how he got so mixed up if he is an expert?

[@grahamwilliams1269]

Is that an eye on knife 3? Could be a birds head with the sharp beak pointing to the handle. Just a thought.

[@tecnotrog1]

Nice I subscribed

[@ObjectHistory]

Thanks!

[@mailjamesthomas]

This guy's voice sounds like the actor John Billingsley...

[@hernandezknives]

Interesting

[@Tipi_Dan]

7:13 This is the classic Bowie knife. No date was offered in the video--- was one offered or speculated upon in the book? If it predates him, then the Bowie knife in its classic form existed before Jim Bowie. With no dating provided, I must assume that this knife post-dates Jim Bowie.

[@chrisnewport7826]

If the extra metal is there for added weight for chopping and perhaps strength. Masonic signed are to be acknowledged as a “ traveler.” Passed, as a brother. Such were everywhere, if you were ambitious. Big knives fought, small, used.

[@hundwyn7530]

Agreed, bowies are basically modern seaxes 😁 Anglo ethnographic frontier weapons, both

[@Ramoncandamo]

Jajaja

[@joshuatichota5046]

Okay I've been trying to do some research on Boot knives, not having any luck maybe you have some info on them that would help me. The thing I really would like to know is is cowboys ever had boot knives inside their boots. When I was into the whole Back To The Future movies, on the third one they showed Bufford Mad Dog Tannon having a knife in his boot. I am wondering if this was Hollywood's interpretation of what cowboys had or if they actually did have boot knives. If you could let me know (if you have the info or so), that would be great, like I said, I've been looking all over the internet for info about cowboys having boot knives but no luck.

[@joshuatichota5046]

Forgot that I didn't say thank you until right after I hit the send button, sorry about that.

[@ObjectHistory]

Interesting. Not a specialty of mine but here are some 19th century descriptions of cowboy boot knives. Even if some are fictional (one of them is a poem), they still seem to speak to the practice existing... California. State Board of Horticulture.. 1892 “His ambition was to be such a man, to smoke cigarettes, swear, carry a couple of revolvers in his belt and a bowie knife in his boot.” The Field of Honor: Being a Complete and Comprehensive History of Duelling.. 1883 “He carries a wicked knife in a boot-leg, and one or more revolvers at his waist.” The Speaker's Complete Program: A Collection of Dialogues, Readings... 1891 “The Cowboy. He came from the land of the setting sun. This blazing star of the first degree; A cowboy bold, all ripe for fun… He was a terror to city curs. A pistol was thrust through his leathern belt. And a knife reposed in his horseman’s boot…”

[@MrEdium]

The "Knife" used be the cowboy on horseback looks amazingly like a Langes Messer sword similar to the Condor 21in blade Messer but with a shorter guard Not a true Bowie knive.

[@ObjectHistory]

Interesting observation. Thanks.

[@vasilioskosman2789]

Maybe I'm jumping the gun early here.I've not heard that the muzzle loader was single shot. And not much use close up. Unless u use it as club. Therefore gun stock war club came into being. The primary weapon until civil war was the knife. Pistols were rare and single shot. Helps if u read the book dudes. David bowtie was jump by highway robbers. He kill 4 w his knife Cotting limbs off a couple of the robbers. Read the book

[@erichusayn]

Cool video!

[@ObjectHistory]

Appreciate the feedback.

[@erichusayn]

@@ObjectHistory not a problem. I'm super into knives and have never saw a few of those. I found it very interesting.

[@Captain-Electro]

@@erichusayn small world Eric 😆 I swear I'm not stalking you through the comments 🤣

[@erichusayn]

@@Captain-Electro so, do you come here often?

[@Captain-Electro]

@@erichusayn just subscribed this week actually 😏

[@admiralgoodboy]

I wouldn't chop with that first knife (second photo) check out its tang

[@admiralgoodboy]

@The Lonely Wolf they use rat tail tangs? I don’t think so

[@admiralgoodboy]

@The Lonely Wolf i had a look at some what i saw were tapered tangs not rats tail, you gotta link to what you were looking at so i can triple check?

[@admiralgoodboy]

@The Lonely Wolf i had a look around yeah and saw tapered tangs on youtube. Ima gonna check out that channel

[@seanmtactical6069]

At 7:05, that looks like a French made Cartouche knife.

[@ObjectHistory]

Appreciate the comment/observation.

[@richardmcginnis5344]

i have a horn handled knife with a similar sheath to the big clip point, is there a site i can send some images to?

[@ObjectHistory]

Unfortunately nothing I'm aware of... it's more a matter of putting it in an internet forum with lots of knowledgeable people. Find a Bowie knife collector's group, etc. and ask for help there. Depending on how much work you want to put in, you can also Google antique knives/Bowie knives 'for sale,' 'museum,' 'auction,' etc. and you might get lucky and find one very similar to yours.

[@ronl.4524]

"Way back in the old days"...Books?? LOL

[@robweems7305]

all seeing eye

[@leemday5731]

The Americans apparently make a knife that's apparently good enough for the average American !........wolsthom Sheffield 1876 makers of fine cutleries to Gentleman adventures

[@glenmo1]

Jim Bowie's original ..knife didnt look like the modern bowie designs we see & think of now days! ..Bowie's original knife... Actually requisitioned from a blacksmith by Bowies Brother ..''Resin Bowie" and given to his brother Jim.. the knife actually looked more like a modern large chef knife! ..... Large knives were very popular with mountain men and.. working men in the frontier as working knives but also doubled as protection as there were only black powder single shot rifles and pistols back then

[@ObjectHistory]

The first one was made out of a file by the blacksmith, wasn’t it?

[@glenmones713]

@@ObjectHistory not sure.. possibly? But it look like a modern chef knife shape ...nothing like we think of nowadays bowie

[@utej.k.bemsel4777]

The earliest american knifes were made of flint or obsidian....

[@ObjectHistory]

Good point

[@surette56]

Please don’t explain what a book is otherwise than that OK

[@vasilioskosman2789]

I mean really u discharge ur long gun. Takes 30-45seconds or more to reload. In that time w bowtie u can kill a dozen or more with bowtie knife. Come on. Thing about it. U got to get ur head back pre-1860s its common sense fellows