Let's see your Belt or Rifleman's knife

[jonathan butcher]

For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated by edged weapons and accoutrement, particularly from the 18th and 19th century.

Over the years I've become a serious student of what is commonly called the Rifleman's knife or belt knife, in my opinion the most essential of tools for those early American explorers and hunters.

As authentic examples are rare and hard to come by in any condition( they were carried and used!), fortunatly there are a few highly skilled craftsmen who build period correct and useable belt knives well suited for any hunter, shooter or collector.

Please post pics of your own belt knife or rifleman's knife, here are a couple of mine to begin;

Daniel Winkler

Rich McDonald ( present belt knife)

Rich McDonald ( previously owned)

 

[Tumbledown]

I made this, from an old machete blade. Blade is 10". Based on the ubiquitous trade knife of the Revolutionary War era.

 

[Stophel]

Wick Ellerbe French butcher knife. A similarly styled knife I made from an old Cold Steel blade (I wish I had a dozen of them) with antler handle. I need to make a sheath for it. And a knife by Scott Summerville. I put the antler on that one.

An English scalper I made, also from an old Cold Steel blade.

 

[jonathan butcher]

I so admire you guys who are making your own blades, very impressive!

 

[Art Caputo]

A few of my favorite replicas.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

 

[jonathan butcher]

Very interesting handle, is it comfortable to use ?

View attachment 34516

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Very interesting handle, is it comfortable to use ?

Very much so. Its a very early design. Josh Wrightsman made it for me based on two 17th century paintings I had researched.

 

[tenngun]

Knifes are my Achilles heal. Nary a one is any where near hc

 

[pab1]

Knifes are my Achilles heal. Nary a one is any where near hc

Can you share your knives that are hc?

 

[tenngun]

None are hc as said. The small butcher is my first ‘kit’ I call it ‘Little Friend’, the CVA trade knife I got about the same time, middle 1970s. The sheep skinner was won on a blanket shoot and the maple I picked up in the gift shop at fort Bridger in ‘12

 

[wiksmo]

My Yakut knife and leather sheath, which I got two years ago. Hand-forged by a man in Canada.

 

[pab1]

HC or not they look good to me @tenngun!

 

[Josephg]

Here is the only patch knife I ever made or owned. Never cut a patch or anything else with it. Made it when I purchased my first muzzle loading rifle in 1974. Made the blade from an old file. Still very sharp.

 

[pab1]

I'm sure they're not HC (I doubt anything I own is) but I like my Jeff White knives.

 

[bang]

 

[Bob McBride]

My main belt knife by Dwight Gallian.

 

[Lobo]

Rich McDonald of Longknives and Leather made this Riflemans knife 10" blade for me. His wife Jeanne made the rawhide lined sheath

 

[Kev308]

These two I made years back the bottom was a file the top may have been O1 steel or it may have been a file- too long ago to recall.

 

[hopping]

The bear tasted great. the blade is from a early 1800 saw mill blade.