A Frontier Fur Trade Dagger.........
Dec 11, 2010 1:12:08 GMT -7
Post by Chuck Burrows on Dec 11, 2010 1:12:08 GMT -7
Here's how James Kirker was described by one of Doniphan's Missouri Regiment in 1846:
"Fringed buckskin shirt and breeches, heavy broad Mexican hat, huge spurs, all embellished and ornamented with Mexican finery......In addition to a Hawkens rifle elegantly mounted and ornamented with silver inlaid on the stock, he was armed with a choice assortment of pistols and Mexican daggers........."
"Fringed buckskin shirt and breeches, heavy broad Mexican hat, huge spurs, all embellished and ornamented with Mexican finery......In addition to a Hawkens rifle elegantly mounted and ornamented with silver inlaid on the stock, he was armed with a choice assortment of pistols and Mexican daggers........."
I've always loved that description and it helped inspire this piece....
Although it was inspired by an 1846 description I wanted to have this piece in a style that could have been made along the American Frontier from the late 1700's through the late 1800's with certain caveats depending on time and place - i.e the tacks could have been added to the sheath later, etc. The 7 1/2" blade of was hand forged by my late compadre Gib Guignard of Cactus Forge. The grip is white tail deer leg bone with a rawhide wrap and linen thread overwrap at three spots, a brass double guard, and some brass tacks for decoration.
The sheath has a bark tan leather core, deer rawhide cover with an alum tawed sheepskin cuff and belt loop. Sheath decoration includes two weeping heart inlays (a common deco motif of the period), glass pound beads, hand cut wrought iron tacks, and tin cone tinklers with horse hair tufts. There is a simple leather whang retention strap decorated with a tin cone, brass, and glass beads.
Hope ya'll enjoy - this is one of my favorites and best of all it all came together "smoothly" - many others do not................
