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Yet another newbie question about gear - knives


Dapper Dave

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I absolutely love having a good quality knife with me at all times, usually a Benchmade Resistor, and/or a classic Leatherman. As it was explained to me, modern is verboten on the line, (which I fully agree with!), and I see a bunch of the Cowboys at the match I watched with various types of belt knives. I gather a lot of them are for show, but what was a Cowboy era utility knife? I heard tell of "screw knives" - what is that, (shameless plug to see pictures of your setups), and how useful are they? 
Thank you for your replies. 

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6 hours ago, Dapper Dave said:

I absolutely love having a good quality knife with me at all times, usually a Benchmade Resistor, and/or a classic Leatherman. As it was explained to me, modern is verboten on the line, (which I fully agree with!), and I see a bunch of the Cowboys at the match I watched with various types of belt knives. I gather a lot of them are for show, but what was a Cowboy era utility knife? I heard tell of "screw knives" - what is that, (shameless plug to see pictures of your setups), and how useful are they? 
Thank you for your replies. 

Here’s a link to lots of screw knives.

 

http://www.shootingbums.org/klassiclaserworks/screwknives.html

 

Randy

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Howdy Dapper,

 

In my experience you'll see all kinds of knives on shooter's belts - from a simple Green River hunting knife to hilariously large "Bowies".

My rigs all carry a knife (for Classic Cowboy): an antique trade knife, a modesty sized Bowie and a short bone handled custom Damascus. I'd advise against an excessively large knife as you rarely even use it at shoot (except maybe a pot luck dinner). I find that the handle is good for hanging my empty bullet pouch. You might chose a knife with an interesting handle (bone, stag or figured maple) as that is what will be visible.

 

Them's my thoughts

Rev. Chase 

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14 minutes ago, Reverend P. Babcock Chase said:

...In my experience you'll see all kinds of knives on shooter's belts - from a simple Green River hunting knife to hilariously large "Bowies"...

I have one of those hilariously large Bowies. :)  I don't wear it too often because it is heavy and gets in the way.  Discussion from last month:

 

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10 hours ago, Rip Snorter said:

Quick Draw Grandpaw has some nice, affordable, period appropriate knives.  Have bought a couple.

Is he on here? Or would you be kind enough to have a link? Thank you very much. 

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2 hours ago, Dapper Dave said:

Is he on here? Or would you be kind enough to have a link? Thank you very much. 

 

Look in the SASS WIRE CLASSIFIEDS.

 

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9 hours ago, Dapper Dave said:

Is he on here? Or would you be kind enough to have a link? Thank you very much. 

He just sold one in here! Check the classifieds for @Quick Draw Granpaw #48525

 

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Screwknives are handy tools for resolving common malfunctions on '73 rifles.  Palo Verde has some videos on how to use them.  They are an essential tool and not a decorative item.  I've used one to clear my wife's '73 at matches before.  (My Marlins do not need them.)

Edited by Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971
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Howdy (again) Dapper and all,

 

I'm not a cutlery historian, but I believe that damascus pattern blades are either very old or relatively new. I expect that most cowboys of the era carried a plain steel bladed knife (unless it was a bowie forged out of a meteor). I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than i am will chime in. Having said that, get what you like as the handle is what folks are going to see. Nobody can see the pattern on my bone handled knife unless I take it out of the sheath for no reason.

 

Rev. Chase

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I don't carry a ridiculously large bowie, but do carry a copy of a Randle # 7 with a antler handle... and a modern folder on a back pocket.  About the only time I need a knife is to clear a broken cap off on of my 1851s.  The Randle is a little large for that task, although it does a fine job.  

 

51NavyBowie.thumb.jpg.d0036cb4801e4b87da5e861cece1fa38.jpg

As noted they make a great place to hang a brass bag, although I don't.  

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I agree with cap cleanup, but with a cap rake the 1860 ad 1851 usually don't have too much of that problem. :)
Right now I have a borrowed Marlin 1894, so I guess I don't need the tool, but I can see how it would be handy! I might have to do the same thing and hide the Leatherman in the back pocket. 

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Heres mine. I put together the knife, made the handle, made the sheath.

20201116_202036.jpg

20201116_202112.jpg

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I have bought blades , then hafted with deer crowns , and done a few that have gone to other folks 

 

 as a rule , I tell folks a knife has to appeal to your eye and fit your hand 

 

 unless I know to whom the knife is going ,I do NOT do the final hone , on one , 

 

 they are right at razor sharp , but when final honed , they will cut ya deep , if not careful 

 

  watched too many folks hurt themselves pretty bad with a polish sharp knife 

 

  Chickasaw 

 

 

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On 9/17/2024 at 1:13 AM, Dapper Dave said:

I absolutely love having a good quality knife with me at all times, usually a Benchmade Resistor, and/or a classic Leatherman. As it was explained to me, modern is verboten on the line, (which I fully agree with!), and I see a bunch of the Cowboys at the match I watched with various types of belt knives. I gather a lot of them are for show, but what was a Cowboy era utility knife? I heard tell of "screw knives" - what is that, (shameless plug to see pictures of your setups), and how useful are they? 
Thank you for your replies. 

 

Like it was mentioned above, cas folk wear just about any kind of knife; it's not a period correct game. Screw knives came into being for cas to clean jams, stuck caps etc.  

 

As for period correct "cowboy era" utility knives (roughly 1860-1900 for cas), look at green river/Russell knives for fixed blades (their butcher, hunter, and dadley styles), English/Sheffield made small clip or spear pointed  fixed blades (5-6 inch blades)  and especially pocket knives; barlow style, two blade and single blade jack, etc. 

As guns/ammunition became more reliable, knives shrank in size and their purpose changed from fighting/self defense to a more utility role. 

Edited by Jackson Haller
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On 9/18/2024 at 6:43 AM, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

Screwknives are handy tools for resolving common malfunctions on '73 rifles.  Palo Verde has some videos on how to use them.  They are an essential tool and not a decorative item.  I've used one to clear my wife's '73 at matches before.  (My Marlins do not need them.)

 

Redwing sells fine screw knives but the blade is too thick to efficiently do the  work described in the video. Palo Verde is demonstrating with a .069" thick blade that is spring steel. There just isn't enough room in there for the thick blade.

But, thanks for mentioning me. 🙂

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