Neck Knives for White Men - Scalper or Patch?

[Claude Mathis]

...I have found this forum to be of IMMENSE value :imo:
It has not only given me great insight & knowledge, it has allowed me talk & think things through in a non "academic" way.

I too find it useful just to bounce ideas off the members to see if my line of reasoning is sound. I've often changed my way of looking at something based on all the input. I want the truth, even if I'm proved wrong. That's how we learn.

Oh yes, Ghost, I do have "credentials"(2 in a field of history (not related to our field of interest)& a minor in Arch.)

Well, since we're all listing our credentials...

I have none, other than what my friends and family think of me.

 

[Puffer]

I have none, other than what my friends and family think of me. [/quote]

Those are the ONLY ones that realy mean anything :imo: :applause: :applause:

Puffer

 

[Okwaho]

Let's recap the original thread to swing back on track...

Came across this in some recent reading: The Indian wore his scalping kife around his neck. No other knife hung there but that which was used specifically for scalping. So, what's up, white man? I always assumed it was the patch knife that swung about the 18th - 19th century Caucasian.

I stand on my original post on this thread {the third one down as I recall} but I also recall some additional information on the use by Indians and Whites of clasp knives for a variety of purposes including,I would presume, scalping.There were large numbers of such knives shown on the HBC lists and in looking at the 1701 shipment of supplies to the Fort at Bioxi{T.M.Hamilton,"Colonial Frontier Guns" PP.12-15} there are found four gross of medium large pocket knives at 14 livres per gross and two gross of butcher knives at 24 livres per gross,{Pp.12-13}.
The second page shows "For Presents to Be Given to the Savages of the aforesaid country": 20 gross of large pocket knives at 12 livres per gross and 8 gross of butcher knives at 24 livres per gross,PP.14-15
It can readily be seen that clasp knives at least on these lists in 1701 sent over by the French outnumbered butcher knives more than two to one.I submit that many and possibly most of these clasp knives, at least in the Louisiana country,may have been used as scalping knives.
I will be looking at the Montreal Merchants Records this winter and may know more then.I will also have to look at the Sir William Johnson papers which largely concern his Mohawks and other allied Iroquois.
Tom Patton :m2c:

 

[CrackStock]

I have learned that humor is not universal. Many of us write in a manner that is intended one way but can be taken in another manner by some readers.

I see that two people seem to have experienced some sparks. I like them and owe a debt to each for good information given.

Hopefully, we can all understand that these forums do not offer the luxury of seeing the true demeanor of the writer and do not always permit us to know the qualifications of our members. Therefore, we must issue a bit of tolerance for the other guy at times (whether we be writing or reading)lest we get overly annoyed or annoy and thereby discontinue the opportunities for learning and study which we so greatly treasure.

For any who may not know him, I have seen the writings of HardDog previously and found him to have good information to offer and experiences to share. I thank him for his help in the past (mostly at TOF's MLML)and welcome him gladly. Good to see you here!

YMHS,
CrackStock

 

[gamick]

Crackshot, You might be able to pass muster on the next Supreme Court nomination! Would someone please post a picture of a flint scalper? :hmm: :thanks:

 

[sse]

EVERYBODY IGNORE THIS
(Henry, do you intentionally disallow private messages?)

Thanks, sse

 

[onefeather]

i got a question.im makeing a new neck sheath soon and i was wondering.do you stitch the leather strap on there or punch holes in the sheath and tie a knot?thanks

 

One Feather, tie a knot in each end of the whang and stitch this to the back of your knife case at the top corners of the flap. That way you don't poke any holes in your knife case. About two stitches above each knot should do it. The knots tied in the whangs keep the whang from slipping back out through the loops formed by the stitches. From the front you won't see anything but the tiny stitches when you look close. From the backside you will see the knotted ends with the stitches above the knots. I hope this is clear for you. I wish I had a way to give you some photos of mine.
Don

 

[onefeather]

thanks i was thinking something along those lines thanks :hatsoff: