Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Craftsmanship => Hawks and Knives => Topic started by: LRB on March 06, 2011, 03:49:13 PM

Title: PC Type French Boucheron Trade Knife
Post by: LRB on March 06, 2011, 03:49:13 PM: Just finished this one. A historically correct type French scalping knife traded to the NA's and others wanting a cheap and simple knife. 7" blade of 01 tool steel. Correct type oversized grip of Boxwood, with under tang gap filled with cutlers resin mixed with a brick dust filler. No epoxy used. Grip is riveted to the tang with iron pins. Sheath is a center seam up the back. Hope you enjoy a look.

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e77/wicklrb/Picture092.jpg)
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Post by: Trois Castors on March 06, 2011, 04:20:31 PM: Very nice........nice work!
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Post by: rickevans on March 07, 2011, 10:45:26 AM: I really like your work Wick. Is a center seam sheath (back or front) also period correct?
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Post by: LRB on March 07, 2011, 01:33:45 PM: More correct in the back Rick, at least the Euro imports. Hard to say what might have done here. Not too many survivors other than NA types.
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Post by: rickevans on March 07, 2011, 01:41:44 PM: You are right there, about not many original examples. My guess is from what I have been able to determine from manifests and inventories is that knives were send in bulk, many without handles attached.

I thouroughly enjoy your work and strive to work to your level as a bladesmith.

rick
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Post by: LRB on March 07, 2011, 04:42:20 PM: Rick, if you happen across a manifest listing blades only, please let me know where I can see it. So far, I have seen no listing of just blades. Some say they did, but most researchers say no. I don't know, but would like to. One way or another.
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Post by: rickevans on March 07, 2011, 06:04:05 PM: Let me see where I stashed some of that stuff. Seemd to me to be a bit odd at that. What good would a trade knife be without handles? Figured they did it to compress the bulkyness...???
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Post by: Riley/MN on March 07, 2011, 06:12:35 PM: very nice work!
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Post by: LRB on March 08, 2011, 07:02:11 AM: It is Ken Hamiltons opinion that since labor was even cheaper in France than here, that it would have been just an unnecessary extra expense to handle them here, and most that are excavated with wood still attached, had boxwood or Euro beech for grips, and some with exotics. The English seemed to have used more exotics, but also the boxwood and beech.
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Post by: markinmi on March 09, 2011, 09:49:08 AM: That is a beautiful piece of work.That sums up what a knife should be for any timber beast walking these woods.