Thanks for the suggestions fellows, good info there.
As to the GR knives, as St George says, they were there, becoming widely available, iirc, in the early 1850's. There were many similar types of butcher and utility knives available, but the GRers were the most famous, used by most buff hunters, Indians, cowboys, trappers etc. Some folks will try to tell you they were used by the Mtn. Men, but they were a bit too late for that.
They are certainly not the last word in blade steel, but they were and are inexpensive and I have butchered a number of big game animals with them and they work admirably. They take a wicked edge very easily, any I've ever seen or used are carbon steel but I think they may also make some in stainless for modern kitchen use.