Old short sword?

mgolab · 27th June 2025, 10:37 PM

I just bought this, but has not arrived yet. Seller says that it is an old tobacco cutter from the 1870s, repurposed from an older sword blade.

Came from Virginia along the James River.

22 inches overall.

I am curious whether this piece is revolutionary war period.

Thanks

M ELEY · 28th June 2025, 03:09 AM

Hey Mark. It is a possibility, but without provenance or markings, it would be too hard to call. I used to have an old tobacco knife (also called corn cutting knives, etc) with a Civil War era cut-down blade with faded Ames marking on it. Some of these were also made from plow shares-

Interested Party · 28th June 2025, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Hey Mark. It is a possibility, but without provenance or markings, it would be too hard to call. I used to have an old tobacco knife (also called corn cutting knives, etc) with a Civil War era cut-down blade with faded Ames marking on it. Some of these were also made from plow shares-

Plow shards, scythes, crosscut saws, anything handy. Some took a good edge some didn't. When I was a kid/young man I would see them at the flee markets for a few dollars, I guess $4-30 in today's currency. I wish I could go back and see if any were cut down swords. Besides the temper/composition differences some were good shapes and cut really well, others were amazing duds. I owned a ton they were so cheap they were almost disposable. I got to learn a lot about cutting steel, design, and edge geometry from those knives. There was always something overgrown that my family was happy to have me clear.

In memory i remember fullered ones like the example, like I said I wish I could go back and inspect them with what I know now

The ferule and peen on the original post are nice touches and slightly usual, especially the peen. I think this thread ties in nicely with the Revolutionay War side knife thread from last week and I am adding a link http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=30738 as I believe they complete an idea and show the development of a form. As I have written about before there were almost no swords in western NC. There should have been many. I think that most were repurposed and ground to nothing in their second working life.

Thanks guys!
-IP

M ELEY · 29th June 2025, 03:53 AM

Amen, IP, concerning the rarity of swords in the NC region. Likewise, I agree many were probably refurbished after the conflicts for more useful purposes. I have been lucky over the years to find a scant few local items (a nice Dog River Confederate saber comes to mind), but most of the stuff I've found here is from somewhere else!

27th June 2025, 10:37 PM	#1
mgolab Member Join Date: Jun 2023 Posts: 77	Old short sword? I just bought this, but has not arrived yet. Seller says that it is an old tobacco cutter from the 1870s, repurposed from an older sword blade. Came from Virginia along the James River. 22 inches overall. I am curious whether this piece is revolutionary war period. Thanks Attached Images

28th June 2025, 03:09 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,171	Hey Mark. It is a possibility, but without provenance or markings, it would be too hard to call. I used to have an old tobacco knife (also called corn cutting knives, etc) with a Civil War era cut-down blade with faded Ames marking on it. Some of these were also made from plow shares-

29th June 2025, 03:53 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,171	Amen, IP, concerning the rarity of swords in the NC region. Likewise, I agree many were probably refurbished after the conflicts for more useful purposes. I have been lucky over the years to find a scant few local items (a nice Dog River Confederate saber comes to mind), but most of the stuff I've found here is from somewhere else!