Reenacting Knives

[15thAlabamaInfantryUnit]

Anybody here know any good fixed blade knives with leather sheaths that would be period correct for reenacting? Looking to add another accessory to my belt to add some authenticity to my appearance. If you can also link the knife or picture to me that would be great!

 

[Story]

For what it's worth, originals to compare against http://midwestcivilwarrelics.com/knives.html

 

[jekct1212]

Anybody here know any good fixed blade knives with leather sheaths that would be period correct for reenacting? Looking to add another accessory to my belt to add some authenticity to my appearance. If you can also link the knife or picture to me that would be great!

Go for something small, like a penny knife or little fixed blade pocket knife

 

[johan_steele]

I would actually advise you to avoid a big bowie or some other large belt knife. Past the very early war use of such the men typically discarded or sent them home as their usefulness in camp or on campaign was rather limited and a smaller pocket knife could do everything a big bowie could.

There are a variety of sources of period style knives.

If you absolutely have to have a sheath knife.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/464/2/KNIFE-RB

I would suggest you would be better off with a folding pocket knife.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/462/1/KNIFE-FOLD

If you want to research an appropriate period style knife many are still manufactured today.
http://www.worldknives.com/

 

[johan_steele]

Below is a link to a thread that has some pics of period knives.

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/acw-gear-photos.73203/

 

[johan_steele]

Below is a picture showing some knives pulled up from the Arabia wreck.

 

[UCVRelics]

I agree with @johan_steele. They look good in a tintype but not much else except for a hacking tool in camp.

 

[15thAlabamaInfantryUnit]

Thank you all for the help.

 

[15thAlabamaInfantryUnit]

Would this knife be any good for reenactments?

 

[jekct1212]

View attachment 133723 Would this knife be any good for reenactments?

How big is it

 

[FloridaCSA]

I would actually advise you to avoid a big bowie or some other large belt knife. Past the very early war use of such the men typically discarded or sent them home as their usefulness in camp or on campaign was rather limited and a smaller pocket knife could do everything a big bowie could./

I'd agree with this. Authenticity stick with a pocket knife. Most the pictures you see with the big bowie knifes I figure are either pre or post war. If you just want a knife tho because you like it. Nothing wrong with that. I'd go with the D guard bowie for confederate.

 

[15thAlabamaInfantryUnit]

14 inches in all, 9 inch blade.

 

[jekct1212]

14 inches in all, 9 inch blade.

I'm not gonna say not too, but think about already having a 18 inch bayonet on your belt too, it be cool to have tho

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I've got a Bowie!!....The only time I ever carried was from camp at 150th Shiloh to the photographer!....I honestly don't know why I ever bought the stupid thing!

 

[jekct1212]

I carry almost a mini Arkansas toothpick in my mess kit to cut and stab and use to cut other things

 

[1950lemans]

I'd agree with this. Authenticity stick with a pocket knife.

Totally agree with this. The pocket knife was a prized possession because it was used to do everything pretty much. Good "pattern types" would be the "barlow" or "congress" - wood, bone or horn handles. Sutlers carry these as does Dixie Gun Works. They're made in India but are pretty well assembled, hold an edge, and you need to treat them like old fashioned carbon steel blades - keep them oiled.
Another pattern is what is called a "trapper" in modern day parlance. Picture shows what was retrieved from the sunken USS Cairo.

 

[1950lemans]

Check this thread out:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/civil-war-era-knives.96504/page-2

 

[Jobe Holiday]

For a Southern impression you never, ever, want a Damascus blade! They just weren't done for Southern troops of the Civil War.
J.

 

[zburkett]

If you want show go with a D guard Bowie. They were carried early until marching troops threw away any weight they didn't really need. Cavalry had sabers. Photographers loved them as props. Infantry carried either pocket knives or small fixed blade knives. One in my collection is a sharpened table knife. The one "Bowie" in my collection that may be Confederate has a long thin blade but is really quite thin steel. If you want a close copy of what would have been carried get an Ontario wooden handle, carbon steel butcher knife. About the only difference is the rivets holding on the wooden scales. A home made leather sheath, either for belt or knap sack carry Is correct. If you want a "correct" knife, get a Lamson, Goodnow & Co. table knife and sharpen it. Lamson was one of the largest suppliers of knives during the war and became "Lamson & Goodnow Mfg. Co." in 1855. I will try to get pictures posted after it gets light.

 

[Jordan M.E. Williams]

I've never seen an original American civil war sword in Damascus, only a few Imperial German and Austro-Hungarian swords.

Was it fashionable in the US?

Windlass Steelcrafts makes some bigger knives, if you really want one. The D guard bowie (though outlandishly large) and the Arkansas toothpick stand out in my mind.