Tool Tuesdays; Soldiers knives

[johan_steele]

Any soldier will tell you that equipment gets damaged or broken in the field. In some cases the soldier will be charged for the broken or lost piece of equipment. In some cases the soldier, or someone else, will keep that piece of broken equipment. On occasion the soldier will find a good use for that broken piece of Army property.
This rather vicious knife started life as a bayonet for an M1842 musket. Through some trick of fate it was broken. An industrious smith with access to a saw and a grinding wheel cut away the socket and ground down part of the blade to create the tang. A little more work with a draw knife and some scrap wood created a usable handle and viola a knife was reborn from a damaged bayonet.
Who made it or when I do not know. It came to my tavern one night tucked into the boot of a would be tough who felt one of my customers had wronged him in some way. The young fool was determined to start a fight. As the young tough had no intention of paying for a drink before he picked the fight I persuaded him that carrying such a tool in his boot might be dangerous. After all, someone might get hurt. As I was the man holding a rifle at the moment it was most likely to be him.
While I have no problem with an occasional fist thrown about in my tavern when a young fool brings a knife intending to start a fight he is taking it too far. The man he was hoping to pick a fight with is a good hard working man but most importantly he is a paying customer. When I am given the choice between a loyal paying customer and a foolish child who thinks himself a tough man there is no choice. The paying customer is always right.
I kept the knife and the young man's boots as well as his trousers and jacket. I am no savage, I allowed him to keep his hat and his drawers as it is several miles back to town from my place. Contrary to the accusations he leveled afterwards I did not rob him.
When the sheriff arrived to speak to me of the incident I handed him the boy's jacket and trousers. I then showed him the knife and gave him a list of the men who had been in the tavern that night if he might wish to question men that might back my side of the story. The sheriff knew me as an old soldier and trusted my word enough that I suffered no problems from the law.
I saw the fool the next time I went to town with my mule cart for supplies. He hefted a hammer as to strike me and called me some rather rude names. I said nothing and merely inserted my rifle into his stomach and brought it to full cock. I rather suspect the muzzle of my M1841 jammed into his belly felt rather uncomfortable.
I walked him to the Sheriff's office and let him have his say with the Sheriff. I was some impressed that the Sheriff advised him that there was good work on the railroad off to the west. In thanks to the Sheriff's eloquence I gave the fool his jacket and trousers back. Though I will admit that I kept his shoes and the hammer. The hammer needed a better sort of home and the shoes were new. Good footwear is not inexpensive.

I have always loved the feel of smooth wood or cold steel under my hand. A finely crafted handle of a knife or the stock of a rifle has always had a calming effect upon me. The knowledge that a skilled artisan dedicated real time working on something I hold in my hand has always made me content to be alive.
Whatever that piece of quality might be; A rifle, knife, tool or even the railing of a set of stairs. A local blacksmith made a set of hand rail for the stairwells in the Inn by simply twisting a piece of bar stock. A neighbor found a straight tree limb and simply removed the bark. It was rough and unpleasant to look upon until he started working at smoothing that tree limb. By the time he was finished it was soft and smooth to the touch. When he added a few coats of oil it took on a sheen that was pleasing to the eye and to touch. He had taken something from nature and put his mark upon it by finding the beauty within.
Wood has a grain, a feel to it that is lacking in steel. Steel has an inherent strength. Brass, bone, horn and even stone can be made almost as beautiful as a woman. It has been said that a good rifle or good blade is like a good woman: strong, deadly and ready to speak with authority should the need arise. That is true. A good rifle or blade has all the curves in all the right places just like a beautiful woman. But a beautiful woman will always be more pleasant to look upon.
I have never been overly skilled at much past killing and surviving. I appreciate those who can make things pleasing to both the eye and touch. That they use nothing more than the sweat of their brow and a bit of imagination always impresses me. All across this country I see pride in things made by a poor mans hands. Men who put their heart into anything make things that will last. No one else might appreciate his work but the artisan does. That pride is evident in the quality of his work for all to see.

 

[donna]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Is it just me or do some of those knives have a more sinister look than other knives?

 

[johan_steele]

Is it just me or do some of those knives have a more sinister look than other knives?

The top one started life as an M1842 bayonet, the next a butchers knife that was a trade knife to the Indians, it was sharpened into it's current sinister shape and as likely as not used as a scalp knife. The one under it in the same picture is a kindajl which is pretty much the national side arm of the Caucasus and numbers were brought back from the Crimea. The picture below that is your typical "Arkansas tooth pick" finally the last is a pure innocent pocket knife of the kind that would come to be known as the "sod buster."

 

[PrivateBrooke]

the last is a pure innocent pocket knife of the kind that would come to be known as the "sod buster."

I carry a similar knife in my pocket at events. It's extremely useful to have, even just to keep you entertained by widdling at a stick. (I try not to stab people with it.)

 

[TNBandit]

Always been fascinated that Civil War swords were made into fighting knives as late as WWII. I've bid on a few but so far there's always been someone who wanted it more than I did.