Knives of members of Voyage of Discovery?

[Naphtali]

I am rereading what I believe is the best book of its kind - mostly because I am unaware of another book on the topic - Feasting and Fasting with Lewis & Clark: A Food and Social history of the Early 1800s, by Leandra Zim Holland. Mrs. Holland identifies knives for trading with Indians that include: bone handled with blade just under six inches; and stag/horn handled with blade 3.133 inches.

What I don't think she mentions are whether these hundreds of knives are the ones issued to members of the Discovery party [also], or what knives and dimensions Lewis had the government issue.

Anyone who can provide information, please reply.

 

[crockett]

I'm just operating off memory but I thought each member of the crew was issued a red handled scalper.

 

[Bon Sauvage]

I can't shed a lot of light but this manuscript: https://www.monticello.org/site/preparations-lewis-and-clark-expedition requests 24 large knives for the crew and 288 trade knives.

 

[LaBonte]

I answered elsewhere so figured I'd add it here:

Lewis made many different purchases of 260 different items. IIRC there are two main lists, one for outfitting the men and another for Indian presents. IMO best bet to find an answer is get the book
Lewis and Clark: Tailor Made, Trail Worn; Army Life, Clothing and Weapons of the Corps of Discovery. Robert J. Moore and Michael Haynes (illustrator). Far Country Press

There are also several websites that discuss the purchases and you may find an answer there - link below
Websites - L & C
On this site http://www.lewis-clark.org/article/2977 there's a list showing items taken from stores to outfit the expedition - it shows that 15 scalping knives were drawn. Scalpers at this time were of a particular blade style usually single edged with a straight or up swept tip. Blades generally ran 6-8" long. Elsewhere in the records is mentioned that the scalpers had painted red handles