Ball starter with a folding patch knife

[Nifeman]

Hey fellers, haven't post anything in a while and Miss Tudy wanted me to make one of my little patch knife ball starters. It's patterned after one that was found in the mountains of North Carolina and believed to be from the early 1800's. It's handle is of walnut with a copper ferrule and has a 2" blade made from a piece of cross cut saw for authenticity.
The sheath is by Miss Tudy and is buffalo and ties to a bag strap. After, we finished it all with a goodly amount of bear grease to waterproof it and keep ya from looking like the new kid in town. Have a look and hope ya like it...
Bud & Miss Tudy

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[Ken Cormier]

Nice it would be handy


Oil

 

[lonehunter]

Pretty cool, Bud! :thumbsup:

 

[Nifeman]

Thanks gentlemen. We don't hold on to these very long...Bud

 

[Billnpatti]

Beautiful work. Are you sure that it was designed and used as a short starter? I only ask because there has long been the assumption made by many that the short starter is a modern invention and that "back in the day" no short starter was ever used. If you know this to be an actual short starter from the early 1800s, it would put to rest this argument. I'd love to see that happen. Those who argue against the existence of early short starters concede that the early shooter may have used the handle of their knives to press the ball into the bore but I think they had the flat side of a standard knife handle in mind and not the handle of the knife/short starter that you have made a copy of. From the appearance of your patch knife/short starter, it is obvious that the short starter portion of the knife is intended to work much as the short starters of today. This is very interesting and of historical importance. :hmm:

 

[Mickc01]

Wow, nifty little tool! I love it. :thumbsup:

 

[Nifeman]

Beautiful work. Are you sure that it was designed and used as a short starter? I only ask because there has long been the assumption made by many that the short starter is a modern invention and that "back in the day" no short starter was ever used. If you know this to be an actual short starter from the early 1800s, it would put to rest this argument. I'd love to see that happen. Those who argue against the existence of early short starters concede that the early shooter may have used the handle of their knives to press the ball into the bore but I think they had the flat side of a standard knife handle in mind and not the handle of the knife/short starter that you have made a copy of. From the appearance of your patch knife/short starter, it is obvious that the short starter portion of the knife is intended to work much as the short starters of today. This is very interesting and of historical importance. :hmm:

It's on pg 163 of the book,
"Sketches of Hunting Pouches, Powder Horns and Accoutrements of Southern Appalachia" by Jim Webb.
However, I did make a mistake on dating it. Everything in this book refers to items from the late 1700's to the mid 1800's. But this particular item has no dating :redface: ...Bud

 

[asalufa]

I LIKE this! Can you give us a better pic of how the hinge mechanism is set up? Is it just a slot cut in the copper?

 

[MSW]

that's a really neat- looking gadget ...

I like it!

 

[Sunkmanitu Tanka]

That is a really nice little gadget! I am also wondering if more details can be had on how exactly you constructed it... Also a neat conversation piece... :thumbsup:

 

[Nifeman]

The wood goes all the way thru the copper and it is slotted to accept the blade. Then you just pin the blade in like on a friction folder. Make it snug but not to tight you can't open it...Bud