19TH CENTURY BELT KNIFE AND ORIGINAL
SHEATH – DAGGER SHAPED BLADE FASHIONED FROM A CIVIL WAR
ERA SWORD – EXCELLENT TOOLED LEATHER SCABBARD:
The type of knife that everyone searches for, this set
has all the appearance of an early frontier made knife
and sheath.
Measuring 11 ˝ ” in overall length, with an 6 ˝” blade,
the knife is fashioned from a Civil War Era sword blade
– one of the straight bladed swords such as the NCO or
Musician Swords. The blade is heavy and stiff and
obviously intended for use rather than decoration. The
blade retains tool marks from being reshaped to its
current form, but is otherwise smooth with no pitting –
obviously well taken care of during its period of use.
The grip is fashioned from a single piece of what
appears to be walnut, a tapered round in profile with
concentric rings worked into the length of the grip.
The grip is held in place with a hammered iron washer
locking onto the blade tang at the top and fitted with
an iron ferrule and cross guard where it joins the
blade.
The original sheath is very nicely executed and from the
fit, it is certainly original to the period of use of
the knife. Made of substantial brown harness leather,
the body of the sheath retains its full form with no
weak points. It is decorated with a carved leather
collar at the throat and a matching carved leather toe
piece which ends in a braided leather “turk’s head” knot
at the bottom. All of the seams are intact, and while
showing signs of use and having been carried, the sheath
has survived in remarkable condition. The narrow belt
loop will accommodate a very narrow belt, approximately
˝” – 5/8” wide, which may indicate this sheath was
carried on a separate belt or shoulder harness under the
owner’s coat – perhaps by a lawman, shootist, gambler or
other person who felt the need for such a blade close at
hand, but out of sight.
This set has a great look and feel to it and from all
appearances is a well made product of a frontier
blacksmith’s shop intended for serious work at close
quarters. Well cared for and having survived with the
original sheath intact, this belt knife would be an
excellent addition to a pistol belt. (0349) $375
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