Thoughts on this knife.

[JenkinsFerry1864]

My dad dug this knife up on a creek near Benton Arkansas in the 70s he's had it ever since cause he has convinced himself its a civil war soldiers knife. It does look it to me. It has a very unusual lead handle that is very heavy. It also sports a brass cross guard and a very thin long steel blade. I don't know of any battles in Benton but I think it was heavily trafficked by soldiers throughout the civil war. To me however it looks homemade like a soldier broke the tip off his bayonet or sword then melted some bullets and casted this knife. But what do I know give me your thoughts.

 

[JenkinsFerry1864]

I forgot to add the reason the cross guard is bent downwards. My dads little brother did that with a pair of needle nose pilers.

 

[JackADriscoll]

I like it. It looks like a primitive trench knife. I don't know if it's civil war but you can be sure it's not for skinning game.

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

Shouldn't the lead be white from time in the ground?

 

[JenkinsFerry1864]

Shouldn't the lead be white from time in the ground?

Does lead turn white after being buried?

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

Does lead turn white after being buried?

Maybe it's only soft lead that does that but civil war bullets turn white over time that's just how lead tarnishes

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

Was it found in a creek or wet ground? That may explain a lack of a patina

 

[JenkinsFerry1864]

Shouldn't the lead be white from time in the groun

Was it found in a creek or wet ground? That may explain a lack of a patina

yes on a creek bank. but from what i can tell its real lead it can be scratched with just your finger nail and it weighs a ton.

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

yes on a creek bank. but from what i can tell its real lead it can be scratched with just your finger nail and it weighs a ton.

If it was found underwater then that would explain the lack of patina. I would say yes it is a civil war trench knife

 

[Will Carry]

It looks like something you would use to shuck oysters. I wouldn't be surprised if it was used in cooking.

 

[JackADriscoll]

It looks like something you would use to shuck oysters. I wouldn't be surprised if it was used in cooking.

I see some photos of early clam shuckers that are suggestive of this form

 

[JenkinsFerry1864]

I see some photos of early clam shuckers that are suggestive of this form

I'm not sure how popular clam eating is in arkansas I've never heard of anyone eating them they are usually incredibly small and hard to find and the big ones are super rare.