Knives in Colonial America

[Magungo1066]

Hello all! Can those that are more educated on this subject chime in? What knives were common for the average farmer/militia man of decent means in Colonial America? What was popular and what would be fitting for an English colonist that is not by trade a professional hunter? Did the average sheath knife get taken to war or were there longer trade knives geared more towards combat? I know as with all history that generalization and individual/regional variation is not scripture, but I wanted some general thoughts. Thanks! Edit: I should clarify I am talking about fixed blade knives. Not the folders they had at the time.

 

[tenngun]

A farmer, a man in town, trades man and such mostly would have a folding knife. People who made need a knife in daily work other then routine tools a sailor longshoreman ect might have a belt knife.
What do I mean needed in daily work?
A barrel maker or furniture maker or such type trades had a set of tools that was handy. And his need for a knife was at arms length without having to be in his belt. A sailor had to dance about in the rigging one minute in the hold the next, so needed a strong portable knife, that would call for a belt knife.
A shop keeper or gentleman could use the lighter build of a folder.
Much of a farmers cutting too could be done with a light pocket knife or need a large tool.
Meanwhile Mrs colonial is at the kitchen, or Maybe cookie at the inn or in service of a rich family. They had several knife styles avalible at hand, and didn’t need one on his belt.
In short, men who were on the move and needed a heavier knife had one. Men who were near their work had special knifes handy and personal use was served by a pocket knife where what cutting was done was light.
So….
Any competent black smith could make a knife. And just as today many men were ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ and too could make a passable knife.
That said most men stayed in their own bailiwick. A farmer may help build a house or barn, May repair his wagon, but in general left carpentry to carpenters and iron work to blacksmiths. So home made knife were rare at best.
Most knifes came in from the UK. They were plain and largely the same knife traded for skins a hundred miles to the west
Plain handles, workman like shape.
Fancy daggers and main gauche were made by swordsmiths, and didn’t have a lot of use. I should say they were good at their use but didn’t fit well in to other uses. You could skin a deer with one, just as you could with a 1/2“chisel but it wouldn’t be real handy.
A quick answer would be most men didn’t have belt knifes.
Most belt knifes, even those on the frontier were short working length. So called ‘scalper’ were of more value lifting a hide then lifting a scalp.
For hand to hand combat for a militia man a belt ax was preferred. A militia man’s job, or a solder was to march, set up camp, take down camp, drill and march. Yeah there might be a battle, not very often. Slicing up enemy with a blade was pretty rare, and so were belt sized knifes for them.
We do know of some riflemans knifes, but evidence suggest these were outliers.

 

[Rifleman1776]

"colonial" can go back a long ways.

history that generalization and individual/regional variation is not scripture,

So.....from my reading, I cannot give knowledgable specifics. But, I have seen references to colonial period woodsmen/frontiersmen/farmers using a "large knife". This knife was used in the kitchen, as a butcher, on the farm and carried for self defense. So, again,......IMHO, pick a style and size you like make it and use it.

 

[JohnnieT]

A farmer, a man in town, trades man and such mostly would have a folding knife. People who made need a knife in daily work other then routine tools a sailor longshoreman ect might have a belt knife.
What do I mean needed in daily work?
A barrel maker or furniture maker or such type trades had a set of tools that was handy. And his need for a knife was at arms length without having to be in his belt. A sailor had to dance about in the rigging one minute in the hold the next, so needed a strong portable knife, that would call for a belt knife.
A shop keeper or gentleman could use the lighter build of a folder.
Much of a farmers cutting too could be done with a light pocket knife or need a large tool.
Meanwhile Mrs colonial is at the kitchen, or Maybe cookie at the inn or in service of a rich family. They had several knife styles avalible at hand, and didn’t need one on his belt.
In short, men who were on the move and needed a heavier knife had one. Men who were near their work had special knifes handy and personal use was served by a pocket knife where what cutting was done was light.
So….
Any competent black smith could make a knife. And just as today many men were ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ and too could make a passable knife.
That said most men stayed in their own bailiwick. A farmer may help build a house or barn, May repair his wagon, but in general left carpentry to carpenters and iron work to blacksmiths. So home made knife were rare at best.
Most knifes came in from the UK. They were plain and largely the same knife traded for skins a hundred miles to the west
Plain handles, workman like shape.
Fancy daggers and main gauche were made by swordsmiths, and didn’t have a lot of use. I should say they were good at their use but didn’t fit well in to other uses. You could skin a deer with one, just as you could with a 1/2“chisel but it wouldn’t be real handy.
A quick answer would be most men didn’t have belt knifes.
Most belt knifes, even those on the frontier were short working length. So called ‘scalper’ were of more value lifting a hide then lifting a scalp.
For hand to hand combat for a militia man a belt ax was preferred. A militia man’s job, or a solder was to march, set up camp, take down camp, drill and march. Yeah there might be a battle, not very often. Slicing up enemy with a blade was pretty rare, and so were belt sized knifes for them.
We do know of some riflemans knifes, but evidence suggest these were outliers.

That was a great write up! I learned quite a few things from reading that. Thank you!

 

[Magungo1066]

A farmer, a man in town, trades man and such mostly would have a folding knife. People who made need a knife in daily work other then routine tools a sailor longshoreman ect might have a belt knife.
What do I mean needed in daily work?
A barrel maker or furniture maker or such type trades had a set of tools that was handy. And his need for a knife was at arms length without having to be in his belt. A sailor had to dance about in the rigging one minute in the hold the next, so needed a strong portable knife, that would call for a belt knife.
A shop keeper or gentleman could use the lighter build of a folder.
Much of a farmers cutting too could be done with a light pocket knife or need a large tool.
Meanwhile Mrs colonial is at the kitchen, or Maybe cookie at the inn or in service of a rich family. They had several knife styles avalible at hand, and didn’t need one on his belt.
In short, men who were on the move and needed a heavier knife had one. Men who were near their work had special knifes handy and personal use was served by a pocket knife where what cutting was done was light.
So….
Any competent black smith could make a knife. And just as today many men were ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ and too could make a passable knife.
That said most men stayed in their own bailiwick. A farmer may help build a house or barn, May repair his wagon, but in general left carpentry to carpenters and iron work to blacksmiths. So home made knife were rare at best.
Most knifes came in from the UK. They were plain and largely the same knife traded for skins a hundred miles to the west
Plain handles, workman like shape.
Fancy daggers and main gauche were made by swordsmiths, and didn’t have a lot of use. I should say they were good at their use but didn’t fit well in to other uses. You could skin a deer with one, just as you could with a 1/2“chisel but it wouldn’t be real handy.
A quick answer would be most men didn’t have belt knifes.
Most belt knifes, even those on the frontier were short working length. So called ‘scalper’ were of more value lifting a hide then lifting a scalp.
For hand to hand combat for a militia man a belt ax was preferred. A militia man’s job, or a solder was to march, set up camp, take down camp, drill and march. Yeah there might be a battle, not very often. Slicing up enemy with a blade was pretty rare, and so were belt sized knifes for them.
We do know of some riflemans knifes, but evidence suggest these were outliers.

Thanks! Tons of knowledge here. I would love to find a nice copy of one of the pocket knives they used. I have a nice trade knife but would like something more akin to what the average Joe would have worn around town. A further question if it is ok! I hear over and over of tomahawks almost universally having been worn on the belt. Were the belts they wore much thicker? I have tried it on my belt for yucks and I would certainly not be running around and expect it to stay there lol. From what I understand it was simply stuck into the belt? Nothing that was attached or tied on? Thanks Everyone for all your input!

 

[andy52]

I wonder how many young men taking off on their own just stole a knife or were given it from mom's kitchen.

 

[Artificer]

Thanks! Tons of knowledge here. I would love to find a nice copy of one of the pocket knives they used. I have a nice trade knife but would like something more akin to what the average Joe would have worn around town. A further question if it is ok! I hear over and over of tomahawks almost universally having been worn on the belt. Were the belts they wore much thicker? I have tried it on my belt for yucks and I would certainly not be running around and expect it to stay there lol. From what I understand it was simply stuck into the belt? Nothing that was attached or tied on? Thanks Everyone for all your input!

There were two basic kinds of folding knives, though there were many variations of at least the first, which is often called "the gentleman's folding knife." Some of the cheap ones won't hold an edge worth anything, though.
https://www.gggodwin.com/Gentlemens-Pocket-Knife--Bone-Handle-105B_p_664.html
The second kind was, believe it or not, the simple Barlow pocket knife often with wooden or bone scales, a very plain bolster and only one or two blades. These were imported into America in huge numbers in the 1750's onward.

http://www.revolutionarywarjournal.com/colonial-pocket-folding-knives-history-of-the-barlow-knife/
As to something that held the tomahawk around the waist, either a woven sash tied behind their back or a leather belt was used. Far less common, but also period correct, were tomahawk sheaths suspended from a shoulder strap.

Gus

 

[Rató:rats]

The penny knife turns up fairly often. I’ve never been a fan of the blade shape but the turned handle is appealing.

Penny knife


Gimme a good Siamois knife any day.

Siamois

 

[waksupi]

These are some I have made. I really like the all steel version that is second from the top, copied from an original pre-revolution knife.

 

[rich pierce]

Trade knives like this one made by Wick Ellerbe were imported by the scores of grosses. Used in nearly every kitchen and when equipped with a sheath, it’s a great all-rounder in the field.

Though we get excited about fighting knives or knives called “butcher” or “scalper” a generic trade knife like this will do it all except be handy gutting small game (too long) or skinning furbearers (too pointy). This one gets used every day in kitchen and field.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Trade knives like this one made by Wick Ellerbe were imported by the scores of grosses. Used in nearly every kitchen and when equipped with a sheath, it’s a great all-rounder in the field.

Though we get excited about fighting knives or knives called “butcher” or “scalper” a generic trade knife like this will do it all except be handy gutting small game (too long) or skinning furbearers (too pointy). This one gets used every day in kitchen and field.View attachment 160339

Thanks, Rich. I believe that example is spot on to answer the OPs question. And, it fits the mental image I have from my readings.

 

[smoothshooter]

Thanks! Tons of knowledge here. I would love to find a nice copy of one of the pocket knives they used. I have a nice trade knife but would like something more akin to what the average Joe would have worn around town. A further question if it is ok! I hear over and over of tomahawks almost universally having been worn on the belt. Were the belts they wore much thicker? I have tried it on my belt for yucks and I would certainly not be running around and expect it to stay there lol. From what I understand it was simply stuck into the belt? Nothing that was attached or tied on? Thanks Everyone for all your input!

I doubt many white men carried a tomahawk for any length oh time simply tucked in their belt without a protective cover of some kind. Think about it- that exposed edge and sharp corners are going to cut fabric they did not want cut, and chip and scrape wood on whatever long gun they were carrying, if they had one. I would also guess a man would be carrying a belt ax if he could get one, in preference to a tomahawk having no poll.
I have tried both ways, as have many readers of this post,
I have found a covered belt ax to work the best for me. I am sure I am not alone on this.

 

[Magungo1066]

Trade knives like this one made by Wick Ellerbe were imported by the scores of grosses. Used in nearly every kitchen and when equipped with a sheath, it’s a great all-rounder in the field.

Though we get excited about fighting knives or knives called “butcher” or “scalper” a generic trade knife like this will do it all except be handy gutting small game (too long) or skinning furbearers (too pointy). This one gets used every day in kitchen and field.View attachment 160339

That's an awesome knife! It is very similar to the reproduction I have so I am glad to see it fits! It makes perfect sense that you wouldn't want/need a knife the size of a small machete when you are working your fields or skinning domestic stock/game etc. Seems like the pocket knife is the one I need then! I understand what you mean about getting excited over the fighting knives! It reminds me of all the monster sized bowie reproductions you see. Not to say they didn't exist, just that the average Joe certainly wasn't dragging one around on his hip for daily work.

 

[smoothshooter]

That's an awesome knife! It is very similar to the reproduction I have so I am glad to see it fits! It makes perfect sense that you wouldn't want/need a knife the size of a small machete when you are working your fields or skinning domestic stock/game etc. Seems like the pocket knife is the one I need then! I understand what you mean about getting excited over the fighting knives! It reminds me of all the monster sized bowie reproductions you see. Not to say they didn't exist, just that the average Joe certainly wasn't dragging one around on his hip for daily work.

There is a place for the long-bladed chopper with a blade of 12” or so. Noting works better for clearing a campsite, especially in the months when the vegetation is green and thick. I have spent many, many hours chopping back saplings and other brush n fencerows, hacking up tree limbs knocked down from storms when a chainsaw or camp saw was not available. For the smaller stuff a short machete-like blade works much better than a tomahawk or belt ax. In canebrake areas, the long chopper would be perfect. And would make a petty good weapon if needed in a pinch.

 

[Brokennock]

There is a place for the long-bladed chopper with a blade of 12” or so. Noting works better for clearing a campsite, especially in the months when the vegetation is green and thick. I have spent many, many hours chopping back saplings and other brush n fencerows, hacking up tree limbs knocked down from storms when a chainsaw or camp saw was not available. For the smaller stuff a short machete-like blade works much better than a tomahawk or belt ax. In canebrake areas, the long chopper would be perfect. And would make a petty good weapon if needed in a pinch.

And these knives would have been used for these tasks in the period the o.p. asked about?

 

[Brokennock]

Trade knives like this one made by Wick Ellerbe were imported by the scores of grosses. Used in nearly every kitchen and when equipped with a sheath, it’s a great all-rounder in the field.

Though we get excited about fighting knives or knives called “butcher” or “scalper” a generic trade knife like this will do it all except be handy gutting small game (too long) or skinning furbearers (too pointy). This one gets used every day in kitchen and field.View attachment 160339

Not romantic and "bushcraft" enough. It will never take off and get popular.....

 

[FlinterNick]

Knives in colonial america fall into a few categories.

Folding Knives were very popular, french, English and american folding knives came in all sizes, some with 5” blades. They were very popular.

Daggers: Daggers were popular in the colonial era, came in all sizes small to large, bone, wood and or antler handles.

Dirks: Dirks with a very long dagger like blade with a semi serrated bottom edge, these were around, not as plentiful as imagined, many of these were high class knives, and very expensive with some on more cheaper and crude side.

Bag/Trade/Belt/Roach Knives: I lump all these together, these knives were very simple. The blades varied in shape and length, with the French Trade Knives having a more belly like shape. Many of these had the look of a modern kitchen knife. Simple wooden handle with a hidden tang.

Riflemen’s Knives: Long and heavy bladed knives (up to 12-14”)many with wide and narrow guards, many without guards. Hidden tang with a bone, wooden or antler handle. Tangs were secured by peening over the end to an end cap. These knives are often called Eastern Long Hunter Knives.

Utility Knives / Choppers and Cleavers: heavily bladed medium length knives to long, often used for cooking and working.

Military Knives and Short Swords: Not very common in the continental ranks, more common in Hessian and British Ranks, these knives were pretty much short swords, highly decorative, usually with broad dagger blades.

Plug Bayonets: Not as common one would think, often reproduced today as a significant item, plug bayonets stopped seeing service with the British, French and Spanish militaries around 1700-1720, many were issued with older Dog Lock Muskets, Early Dutch Muskets. Left over from an older era, these were commonly used as long knives, traded for but not really used as bayonets up to the French and Indian War.

Cartouche, Pearling and Patch Knives: Small trade knives, many with full tangs. These could also easily be called bag knives, a lot of the terms are interlinked depending on what the user or maker intends them for.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Here are some blade shapes from actual excavations. These are thought to be trade knives...

Note that these appear to be "half-tang" knives in most of the above examples.

The English knives seem to have blade shapes very similar to butcher knives today, which is why my "rifleman's knife" is nothing fancier than a carbon steel butcher knife. Very inexpensive, and very much NOT custom made by a cutler or blacksmith.

LD

 

[Rifleman1776]

Riflemen’s Knives: Long and heavy bladed knives (up to 12-14”)many with wide and narrow guards, many without guards. Hidden tang with a bone, wooden or antler handle. Tangs were secured by peening over the end to an end cap. These knives are often called Eastern Long Hunter Knives.

I would agree except for the "heavy" part. These were fighting knives and the examples I have see, including my custom replica are not heavy and are quite easily maneuvered without making the arm tired.

 

[smoothshooter]

And these knives would have been used for these tasks in the period the o.p. asked about?

Of course. Those kinds of blades have been around for centuries.