The gent wanted something that would fit late 1700's and early 1800's so..........





The hand forged 9 1/2" blade is patterned after an original knife excavated at Ft. Ticonderoga - its made from 1080 hi-carbon steel with file work on the spine. The handle is buffalo leg bone with a deer rawhide wrap and buffalo rawhide end wraps - the main wrap covers a spiraled piece of rawhide for a better grip.
The sheath has an elk rawhide cover over a bark tan core and a brain tan inner cuff at the top as far down as the grip goes . Decoration includes: the elk rawhide cover has been incised carved, there is a quilled and pound beaded braintan cuff, pound beads along the edge of the blade, and two dangles made from whiteheart glass beads, brass cones, and buffalo hair.
The knife balances where you're fore finger will set making it easy handling, but with enough blade weight to do light chopping and other camp shores......

That is certainly a beautiful knife as are all the fine items shown. I'm not doubting it is a replica of an original from Ft. T. But I do have doubts it belonged to a Rev. Rifleman. While the pattern is certainly correct, these guys were practical fighters. Fancy had no place in their repitoire. This may have been a presentation piece to an indian chief or ranking officer. Dunno, just supposin'.
BTW, what is the cylindrical object? Looks like a duck call or sumptin'.

I don't think I have ever said this about any pieces of gear.... that is to nice to take out in the field it belongs on a wall or museum setting

That is beautiful work.

the "duck call" is most likely a bait box for beaver lure..

quote:

Originally posted by Mitch:
the "duck call" is most likely a bait box for beaver lure..

Astute deduction. I knew that.

Chuck,
I agree--it's much too fancy. I'd be glad to take it off your hands so that you can make a plainer one!

Seriously, one fine set of equipment.

Dick

I am a bit uncertain about the small container, the date mentioned is a bit on the early side for a lot of white trapping activit( location is unknown so this is the key for the trapping lure idea) I wonder if it might be tinder fungus,or other fire starting material.The striker caught my eye and got me going in that diretion, I have a smilar container I use for salt, as I no longer trap and do not use trapping as part of my persona in progress.It could be gun lube or patch lube, lots of possibilities.

quote:

I don't think I have ever said this about any pieces of gear.... that is to nice to take out in the field it belongs on a wall or museum setting

Don't forget that the stuff in museums were carried and used at one time.

I like fanciful gee-jaws myself and would carry that piece anywhere, anytime.

too fancy? naw this one on the other hand is a bit fancy......



that knife was built by an Argentinian smith with the sheath by me..

Re: the accoutrements in the pic:
1) The horn is an original dated 1791 and 1825 - I repaired it with rawhide and added the strap, it is my using horn
2) The circa 1770's fowler is by Tom Stroh
3) The pouch was inspired by the Indian types worn by mountaineers in A. J Miller's prints circa 1830's
4) The container - Mitch got it right - it's a beaver scent bottle - red willow covered with rawhide.
The idea for the knife and sheath were built to a style so that the new owner (sorry Dick! - but I can always make another..)could use it for late 18th or early 19th century doins' - rifleman's knife is a generic term for this type blade, which is really nothing more than an extra long English scalper style, and in this case does not directly relate to any particular group such as Morgan's Men or even to the Rev War (there were riflemen in the War of 1812 as well)

quote:

these guys were practical fighters. Fancy had no place in their repertoire.

I respectfully disagree - there is more than enough primary documentation to the contrary.
Besides which not all rifle companies were plain accoutered frontier companies - many had uniforms including Morgan's Men who wore white fringed hunting shirts and round hats with plumes in them. Other rifle companies wore hunting shirts dyed blue with red fringe and still others were kitted out in regular military style uniforms with waistcoats, breeches, coats, etc..
Even Lew Wetzel was noted as having worn a bit of fancy gear - some of it war "trophies" and Simon Girty was quite the prima donna...
IMO - The idea that fancy gear has no place in a real fighting man's repertoire is mostly "modern" thinking - there are plenty of real fighting men throughout history who wore fancy gear of various types......and based on who I've sold knives and other fighting gear to for lo these many years (mostly SpecWar types), there are still plenty of real fighting men who like a bit of bling, even when engaging in modern combat.....

This message has been edited. Last edited by: GreyWolf,

Chuck, Another one was Mountainman Mariano Modena 1812-1878. He was a flamboyant character that favored flashy gear.

I always liked this description of James Kirker as described by one of Doniphan's Missouri Regiment in 1846. Kirker was an Irish immigrant who became a mountain man and later was a major player in the SW and Mexico scalp trade - a real ring tailed roarer:
"Fringed buckskin shirt and breeches, heavy broad Mexican hat, huge spurs, all embellished and ornamented with Mexican finery......In addition to a Hawkens rifle elegantly mounted and ornamented with silver inlaid on the stock, he was armed with a choice assortment of pistols and Mexican daggers........."

Hmmm Ron now there's a look for you - I can see you all decked out ala Kirker on your Hawg...

as to that fancy silver mounted Hawken - I reckon it might have looked something like this one - a J & S original mounted in real silver circa 1836:



the buttstock in color

From The Kentucky Rifle Hunting Pouch book by Madison Grant. While it says nothing about the knife he carried it's interesting non the less.

quote:

Mariano Modena was a prince amoung mountain men. As Flamboyant in dress as he was taciturn in demeanor, his exploits fully matched those of famous contemporaries such as Kit Carson and Jim Bridger. His smallness of stature was counter-balanced by a fiercely competitive disposition bequeathed by his Spanish ancestors. He was afraid of nothing. Squaw man, scout and Indian fighter, his activities spanned a period conceded to be one of the most volatile eras in our history.

Having survived numberless adventures of a type that eliminated less adaptable men, he settled in the valley of Colorado's Big Thompson River. There he became a rancher, tavern keeper and for that period, a wealthy man.

Modena's domestic life was hardly less tranquil than the daily excitement that swirled around him. The loss of his wife and all of his children embittered his declining years.

When he knew that he had not long to live, he gave his rifle "Old Lady Hawkens", hunting pouch and accouterments to his close friend, General A.H. Jones of Denver. Later the family presented the treasures to the Colorado State Historical Society.

This hunting outfit surely has few equals in the field of 19th century equipment for muzzleloading fire arms. The gun is one of the famous Hawken pieces made in St. Louis, Missouri. Furnishings are of iron, including the patch box and star inlays. Such rifles were the finest in accuracy and dependability.

The pouch reflects the character and taste of the owner in unmistakable fashion. It is made of beaver skin on a scalloped red trade cloth. The pouch measurements are approximately 8 inches wide and 14 inches deep. The shoulder strap is 42 inches long and 3 1/2 inches wide. The powder horn has been strengthened with rawhide and dispenses powder by mechanical means usually employed on flasks.

Modena's rifle, pouch, horn and some clothing attributed to him is in the Colorado Historical society museum in Denver.
But if going to talk flambount dress you can't forget Tom Tobins coat.See if I can't dig out a pic of it with it's purple and black triangles.
Woodman

Greywolf, my comments about the Rifleman's knife being unadorned and practical came from the birth of the r'man's knife and who the riflemen were. They were volunteers who left family and frontier farm behind to fight for freedom. They were, for the most part, practical and unadorned. The (now) famed rifleman's knife was born after many of these men, who were using short swords that had been given (issued) to them found them too long and unweildy. Subsequently, these swords were often broken shorter and reformed into a long knife with blades ranging from 10" to 14". Practical and deadly fighting lengths. Your information that some fancy, or presentation grade, knives were issued is new to me. I'm not disputing, it is just something I have never heard or read before in the past 35 years of playing this game.

Exceptional work as always, Chuck!!

GreyWolf, all I can say is that is some mighty fine work you've done there, Awesome!

trg,

the first time you face a man with a tomahawk or knife you will appreciate that blade length and shape. Trust me on that score.

As far as pretty... These were not all pig farmers conscripted in. A lot of them were blacksmiths by trade and would have made themselves decorative versions of a very functional fighting knife.

Rich

Work of art for sure!!!