Let's see your Belt or Rifleman's knife

[Bruce McClung]

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)

 

[Bruce McClung]

Here Is My Collection of Chad Matthews Knives... They Have Never Let me down..

 

[Colonialnerd]

I’m shoehorning bits of Scottish into my kit, so I got a non regimental dirk as a belt knife.

 

[Ricochet]

Here’s mine that I just finished recently

 

[Loja man]

A lot of cool knives here!! Here are a couple I made! I have one in the works right now that I plan to keep.

 

[olskool]

how about one that may be authentic? it was shown here before and i got mixed reviews on whether it was a real southern rifleman's knife or not. it was definitely made from a large file, and it is cool if authentic or not,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Loja man]

It is finished!!

 

[Ricochet]

Great looking knife Loja!

 

[Loja man]

Great looking knife Loja!

Thank you! I will try to hold onto this one for a while!

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Knife made by gun maker Ian Pratt.

 

[scotti]

Jeff Helm rifleman's knife and sheath by Doug Swartz

 

[Harry Marinakis]

I made this knife a while back.
Could I use this knife as my belt knife (Virginia c. 1800)?
Or should I make an English style trade knife for my kit?

 

[Omahkapi'si]

My belt knife. Razor sharp.

 

[WonkyEye]

A few of my favorite replicas.
View attachment 34497

I love the handle on the top one.

 

[RayjHindle]

Picked this one up at the Tennessee Kentucky Rifle Association Show last year. I made the sheath.

 

[Harry Marinakis]

I guess my other knife (4 post above) wouldn't pass muster for being HC, so yesterday I knocked out this English trade knife in 5 hours.

I made this knife using the same general process that was used to make the originals. So it's a rough mass produced "munitions grade" knife with a historically-correct V-grind, 220 grit finish, 3/4 tang, octagonal Box wood handle with 3 pins, and center-seam sheath.

Knife: auto leaf spring steel
Handle: English Box Wood
Blade: 7 inches

Sheath: Oak tanned leather
Thread: Natural linen
Finish: Bear grease

 

[BozoMiller]

Here Is My Collection of Chad Matthews Knives... They Have Never Let me down..

Nice collection you have. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BozoMiller]

Here’s 3 of mine.
1 Joe Schell
2 Ban DiStefano
3 Cody Yoho

 

[Jedidiah]

I take Chicago cutlery and rework it slightly. They work great, and get extremly sharp!

 

[BruceHuxford]

My old and fairly new friends. HC or not they answer my needs