Revolutionary War era side knife/dagger

M ELEY · 17th June 2025, 03:01 PM

Here we have a nice old spear-point type dagger from the late 18th century. The blade is very sharp on both edges, is elliptical in profile with a ridged 'spine' and has a simple coiled wire ferrule. It was made from a file (a common practice back then) and still shows the cross-hatch grooves of its former life. The hilt is of the common 'tool' pattern, again something seen on both weapons and tools of this period. It measures 13" overall, with an 8" blade.

M ELEY · 17th June 2025, 03:06 PM

I know that many folks either question whether the tool handle grips seen on knives and some swords of this era were the originals or something placed there later. I personally believe many of these types were made this way, especially on the more primitive cutlass-types made by local blacksmiths for sea service weapons. Knives, likewise, could have had anything from plain blocks of wood to tool-type grips. Some might remember the cutlass I bought from CC a while back with a tool-type handle-

M ELEY · 17th June 2025, 03:15 PM

During both the American Revolution and early Federalist periods, many of the swords of the period were made 'no nonsense'. As they were not officer's grade, were made as true battle implements, made in small batches by local smiths and (in the case of naval weapons) had no specific patterns assigned to them, most were made on the cheap, often ersatz from what the maker had in hand. Here's another cutlass type (not mine, unfortunately) with a turned wood, tool-type handle-

M ELEY · 17th June 2025, 03:20 PM

For similar examples, see "American Swords from the Phillip Medicus Collections" by Mowbray. Also see this old thread concerning my Federalist cutlass-

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24268

Jim McDougall · 17th June 2025, 05:50 PM

This is an excellent entry Capn!
During the Revolution, naturally the majority of colonists weapons were ersatz versions (as you often note) of the usual forms, but of course crafted by the same blacksmiths who created tools for everyday use. It does not seen far fetched to see that handles of the forms used on tools and implements would not only serve as working elements of these weapons, but influence the crafting of other examples as well.

The use of files to fashion blades was indeed common in these times, in fact the famed 'Bowie' knife which made James Bowie famous from the 'Sandbar fight' was crafted from a file (actually for his brother Rezin, who gave it to him before the event).

M ELEY · 17th June 2025, 05:59 PM

Hello Jim and great to hear from you as always! Thanks for your comments as well. I know it takes a special kind of collector (me, being one of them!) to not be turned off to these type weapons. In their primitive state, they aren't flashy nor sleek fighting tools. What they are, though, is the real deal. Fighting 'tools', if you will. You had recently sent me that fascinating information on Rezin's famous bowie, indeed made from a file! Neumann lists several knives like mine with the tool-type handle in his "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution" for those interested.

17th June 2025, 03:01 PM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,166	Revolutionary War era side knife/dagger Here we have a nice old spear-point type dagger from the late 18th century. The blade is very sharp on both edges, is elliptical in profile with a ridged 'spine' and has a simple coiled wire ferrule. It was made from a file (a common practice back then) and still shows the cross-hatch grooves of its former life. The hilt is of the common 'tool' pattern, again something seen on both weapons and tools of this period. It measures 13" overall, with an 8" blade. Attached Images

17th June 2025, 03:06 PM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,166	On the subject of 'tool' grips- I know that many folks either question whether the tool handle grips seen on knives and some swords of this era were the originals or something placed there later. I personally believe many of these types were made this way, especially on the more primitive cutlass-types made by local blacksmiths for sea service weapons. Knives, likewise, could have had anything from plain blocks of wood to tool-type grips. Some might remember the cutlass I bought from CC a while back with a tool-type handle- Attached Images

17th June 2025, 03:15 PM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,166	During both the American Revolution and early Federalist periods, many of the swords of the period were made 'no nonsense'. As they were not officer's grade, were made as true battle implements, made in small batches by local smiths and (in the case of naval weapons) had no specific patterns assigned to them, most were made on the cheap, often ersatz from what the maker had in hand. Here's another cutlass type (not mine, unfortunately) with a turned wood, tool-type handle- Attached Images

17th June 2025, 05:59 PM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,166	Hello Jim and great to hear from you as always! Thanks for your comments as well. I know it takes a special kind of collector (me, being one of them!) to not be turned off to these type weapons. In their primitive state, they aren't flashy nor sleek fighting tools. What they are, though, is the real deal. Fighting 'tools', if you will. You had recently sent me that fascinating information on Rezin's famous bowie, indeed made from a file! Neumann lists several knives like mine with the tool-type handle in his "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution" for those interested. Attached Images

17th June 2025, 03:20 PM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,166	For similar examples, see "American Swords from the Phillip Medicus Collections" by Mowbray. Also see this old thread concerning my Federalist cutlass- http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24268

17th June 2025, 05:50 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,296	This is an excellent entry Capn! During the Revolution, naturally the majority of colonists weapons were ersatz versions (as you often note) of the usual forms, but of course crafted by the same blacksmiths who created tools for everyday use. It does not seen far fetched to see that handles of the forms used on tools and implements would not only serve as working elements of these weapons, but influence the crafting of other examples as well. The use of files to fashion blades was indeed common in these times, in fact the famed 'Bowie' knife which made James Bowie famous from the 'Sandbar fight' was crafted from a file (actually for his brother Rezin, who gave it to him before the event).