New to the forums. What do I have?

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by thinreadline

Yes looks to be a trade blade , though I do agree its longer and narrower than any I have encountered so far . The tang cross piece is typical of these blades. I suspect it was one designed to be used as a lance or spear rather than a knife.

By jove I think you got it there TRL!

In "Swords and Blades of the American Revolution" (1973, George Nuemann). p.225, 140.PA......there is a pike which seems blacksmith grade of c. 1775, found in Champlain Valley sites. This shows that curious extra bar, while this blade in OP shows better quality blade it does seem made 'in this manner' perhaps it is a European example possibly copied by a colonial blacksmith in the Nuemann example .