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Special Interests - Groups & Societies => Cas City Historical Society => Topic started by: Hickok55 on May 12, 2022, 07:03:17 AM

Title: what knife is this
Post by: Hickok55 on May 12, 2022, 07:03:17 AM

does any one know what kind of knife this is in this photo

Title: Re: what knife is this
Post by: River City John on May 12, 2022, 08:49:44 AM

Looks like a "Sheffield" -type bowie.

Title: Re: what knife is this
Post by: Tascosa Joe on May 12, 2022, 08:57:57 AM

I concur.

Title: Re: what knife is this
Post by: St. George on May 12, 2022, 09:28:54 AM

Indeed - those were widely available throughout the West.

Atlanta Cutlery offered new examples at one time - so did Dixie and Crazy Crow - they probably still do.

Scouts Out!

Title: Re: what knife is this
Post by: River City John on May 12, 2022, 11:01:25 AM

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1210513239/fred-james-ixl-sheffield-very-rare-bowie?click_key=e59d0321c864114ecf2da798158e0dcadfc1ce81%3A1210513239&click_sum=c116341e&ref=shop_home_active_36

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1176930663/george-wostenholm-ixl-sheffield-bowie?click_key=012aaa87b6be00b7888b023a8a84320036141029%3A1176930663&click_sum=ac15ea8d&ref=shop_home_active_57

https://www.etsy.com/listing/877570037/the-sheffield-exhibition-knives-geoffrey?click_key=918af90e775e383a1539f0b68e13a65b9856e2de%3A877570037&click_sum=1127bd3b&ref=shop_home_active_315

On the above listing, check out the picture of the flyleaf/endpapers pages. They show typical types of bowies that were not so fancy.

Sheffield is a city and district in England known for metalwork, - silver, silver-plate, steel, etc.  There were many individual manufacturers within that area.
"You might have heard Sheffield being called the 'Steel City'. It gained an international reputation for steel production in the 19th century, and its population boomed during the Industrial Revolution. Innovations developed in Sheffield include stainless steel . . ." - courtesy Wikipedia

Title: Re: what knife is this
Post by: Buckaroo Lou on May 12, 2022, 02:41:26 PM

The sheath makes the knife look as though it could be a dagger style knife, but not practical for his attire, so I am inclined to think a Sheffield style Bowie knife. Perhaps something along the lines of this style of knife.





 

Title: Re: what knife is this
Post by: Jake MacReedy on August 11, 2023, 11:26:26 AM

Definitely a Sheffield-produced Bowie, with probably a 4 1/2" handle and a 6" blade, which is a clip-point.  If you look carefully at the center seam sheath, you can see it is a right-handed sheath for a clip=point blade.
Jake 

Title: Re: what knife is this
Post by: Coffinmaker on August 11, 2023, 07:20:21 PM

 :) Well Now  ;)

Our Hero is shown with an 1873 Rifle, A double action Colt thunderer and a swell knife and cool spurs.  Also a really flash leather shirt.

What kind of knife it may be, I haven't a clue.   ;D

Title: Re: what knife is this
Post by: Major 2 on August 11, 2023, 08:07:03 PM

The print is interesting, it is a studio cabinet card print...
more that likely studio props.   

Title: Re: what knife is this
Post by: Reverend P. Babcock Chase on August 11, 2023, 10:23:45 PM

Howdy Photo Historians,

I have to differ with the opinions so far. I blew the photo up and I think the knife in the photo is actually a dagger. The sheath seems too narrow for a bowie. It also looks pretty symmetrical to me. Further the handle looks to widen as it approaches the guard, possibly designed for thrusting.

For What it's worth,

Rev. Chase