(Buffalo?) Rib Bone Knife Found In A Field

GopherDaGold

Silver Member
Dec 12, 2009
2,817
3,356
St. Charles County, Missouri
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Tesoro Vaquero, Bounty Hunter Land Star, Teknetics Delta 4000, Minelab Equinox 600, Garrett Carrot
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Took advantage of the warmer weather to take a walk thru the countryside in Leasburg, MO. with my girlfriend. We were walking through some land she was selling when she picked up what looked like a long chunk of mud. After carefully scraping off most of the mud, we saw that it was some type of bone knife. We gently washed it off back at her place and I still haven't picked my jaw up off the floor. Has anyone seen a knife like this? Any idea how old? Any information would be appreciated. We only had her phone so we didn't even think to take in-situs at the time and I'm regretting that. I was too excited about getting it home and cleaning it properly.
 

Attachments

  • 2012-01-03 20.28.34.jpg
    2012-01-03 20.28.34.jpg
    39.5 KB · Views: 1,662
  • 2012-01-03 20.29.45.jpg
    2012-01-03 20.29.45.jpg
    34.2 KB · Views: 1,730
  • 2012-01-03 20.30.55.jpg
    2012-01-03 20.30.55.jpg
    30.4 KB · Views: 2,255
  • 2012-01-03 20.31.18.jpg
    2012-01-03 20.31.18.jpg
    29.2 KB · Views: 1,604
  • 2012-01-03 20.32.23.jpg
    2012-01-03 20.32.23.jpg
    31.2 KB · Views: 1,620
  • 2012-01-03 20.32.48.jpg
    2012-01-03 20.32.48.jpg
    30.1 KB · Views: 1,528
  • 2012-01-03 20.34.07.jpg
    2012-01-03 20.34.07.jpg
    26.6 KB · Views: 1,509
Upvote 0

worldtalker

Gold Member
May 11, 2011
21,071
29,216
Western Mass.
Detector(s) used
XP Deus
Primary Interest:
Other
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Sure looks like a Buffalo skinnin knife to me,that's my observation,and it's old!!!!!!Could be wrong,don't think so though. God Bless Chris
 

oxbowbarefoot

Banned
May 25, 2011
2,268
1,850
🥇 Banner finds
4
Primary Interest:
Other
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

It's old. I'm guessing its not ancient based on the design, maybe 1800's. It looks like a Bowie knife shape. Super cool find.
 

OP
OP
GopherDaGold

GopherDaGold

Silver Member
Dec 12, 2009
2,817
3,356
St. Charles County, Missouri
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Tesoro Vaquero, Bounty Hunter Land Star, Teknetics Delta 4000, Minelab Equinox 600, Garrett Carrot
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Could it be made from a rib bone? A buffalo rib perhaps, considering the curvature and width?
 

relicminer

Sr. Member
Dec 31, 2010
428
28
Pike County Kentucky
Detector(s) used
Garrett Ace 250, Garrett Pro-pointer, Lecshe Digging Tool, Predator Mauler T-Handle
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Banner Find!!!! :icon_thumleft:
 

pumice

Full Member
Dec 27, 2011
117
5
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Nice eye ball find...... :icon_thumleft: :icon_thumleft:
 

OP
OP
GopherDaGold

GopherDaGold

Silver Member
Dec 12, 2009
2,817
3,356
St. Charles County, Missouri
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Tesoro Vaquero, Bounty Hunter Land Star, Teknetics Delta 4000, Minelab Equinox 600, Garrett Carrot
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Who made it? Native Americans or settlers or fur trappers, or what? I'm itching to find out :coffee2:
 

Kent in AL

Sr. Member
Mar 21, 2003
481
5
N. Alabama
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 600, Fisher CZ-6a, ID Edge
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Wow! That is one awesome find!! :o Thanks for sharing!

Kent
 

PikesPeakCharlie

Bronze Member
Nov 19, 2008
1,789
1,511
Pikes Peak
Detector(s) used
Garrett Gti 2500, Garrett Gta 350, Garrett Pro-Pointer -- Whites IDX Pro, AutoMax V2 Pinpointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

I've found alot of things made out of bone,,,,,,but never a knife. Congrats :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:
 

kuger

Gold Member
Nov 6, 2007
9,721
2,795
Detector(s) used
,M.X.T.& Tesoro Tejon
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Bone is not known to keep an edge,and I guarantee it wasnt for buffalo
 

smcdmc

Sr. Member
Aug 12, 2011
301
71
Maine
Detector(s) used
Garrett GTAx 500, Teknetics G2, Garrett Pro Pointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

GopherDaGold said:
Could it be made from a rib bone? A buffalo rib perhaps, considering the curvature and width?

Definitely a rib and definitely not human. I would say probably not used for skinning but maybe for scraping flesh from the hides.

Shane
 

natepen

Full Member
Feb 21, 2009
126
7
Minnesota
Detector(s) used
Garrett Ace 350
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

This would be a good one if you love to do your research and learning about history of an area.
 

OP
OP
GopherDaGold

GopherDaGold

Silver Member
Dec 12, 2009
2,817
3,356
St. Charles County, Missouri
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Tesoro Vaquero, Bounty Hunter Land Star, Teknetics Delta 4000, Minelab Equinox 600, Garrett Carrot
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

I have been all over the net looking for something similar and have come up empty.
 

birdman

Gold Member
Jan 28, 2005
7,458
2,393
Choctaw Beach Florida
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Equinox 800 and ORX, tesoro Cibola with garret,whites and minelab pinpointers
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Never seen anything like it. Could be a banner find !
 

SeatedorBust

Full Member
Nov 5, 2011
129
1
Carthage, Missouri
Detector(s) used
Minelab Explorer SE/ SunRay Probe Lesche Digger
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Re: Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Necessity is the mother of Invention..... I think someone in the past REALLY needed a knife. WAY cool find... i think very old. Very unique.... I couldn't find anything on it either. :BangHead: But i agree that it wouldn't hold an edge very well...... so probably not a scrapper or skinning tool.
 

OP
OP
GopherDaGold

GopherDaGold

Silver Member
Dec 12, 2009
2,817
3,356
St. Charles County, Missouri
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Tesoro Vaquero, Bounty Hunter Land Star, Teknetics Delta 4000, Minelab Equinox 600, Garrett Carrot
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Rib Bone Knife at Old Field Site

I modified the title so people wouldn't think it was just a bone handled knife. Still researching but haven't found anything yet.
 

GoldenDreams

Greenie
Dec 21, 2011
10
0
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Re: Rib Bone Knife at Old Field Site

Looks like it has blood on it, maybe killed the first Wooly Mammoth :laughing7:, all kidding aside though that is an awesome find, I would be thrilled to death to find something like that. :icon_thumleft:
 

OP
OP
GopherDaGold

GopherDaGold

Silver Member
Dec 12, 2009
2,817
3,356
St. Charles County, Missouri
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, Tesoro Vaquero, Bounty Hunter Land Star, Teknetics Delta 4000, Minelab Equinox 600, Garrett Carrot
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Re: Rib Bone Knife at Old Field Site

There is a bright red colored mark on the blade, definitely not blood as I would think it would be much darker but good eye :icon_thumleft:
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top