Found 10” deep in old Maple 🍁 Forest

[mangoman]

At first I thought it was a knife or blade of some sort.. but then figured it might be a tool of some sort used to perform a task on the farm in the 1800s.. haven’t cleaned it up as a found it a few hours ago about 10” deep in the old Maple woods here in Upstate NY. Any idea what she is? Thanks 🙏 in advance friends! Happy hunting.

 

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[sgoss66]

Looks to me like a butter knife whose handle has rotted/decomposed (possibly was made of wood).

 

[mangoman]

Looks to me like a butter knife whose handle has rotted/decomposed (possibly was made of wood).

Yah was just thinking something similar. Interesting 🧐 thanks Sgoss

 

[CreakyDigger]

Howdy neighbor. I'm thinking more than a butter knife...I don't think one would have that notch near the handle area.

 

[CRUSADER]

Yeap, a very old knife

 

[hollARDog]

"cheese" knife 🧀

 

[Fredneck]

Nice colonial knife !! Rarely found complete like that, get back in those maples.

 

[mangoman]

Nice colonial knife !! Rarely found complete like that, get back in those maples.

Oh you know it. Not many things that beat traversing time in an old woods. Cheers, D

 

[CoinsAndThings]

Most likely a hunting knife of some kind. I'm no expert but most old kitchen knives I've seen aren't of hidden tang construction. To me that looks like a hidden tang knife with the wood rotted away. I think, when it's cleaned up you may find a ferrule just in front of the tang as well.

Nice find!

 

[Digger RJ]

View attachment 2050817At first I thought it was a knife or blade of some sort.. but then figured it might be a tool of some sort used to perform a task on the farm in the 1800s.. haven’t cleaned it up as a found it a few hours ago about 10” deep in the old Maple woods here in Upstate NY. Any idea what she is? Thanks 🙏 in advance friends! Happy hunting.

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[callmez]

Table knife blade, with forged bolster and narrow tang and the tip broken off. Might be a carving knife, if large enough. Not likely a butcher knife.

Hunting knife is not a possibility IMO as hunting knives were simply butcher knives until sport hunting became a popular pastime in the late 1800s, and sport hunting knives weren't made this way.

The marking will be on the opposite side, you are showing the reverse side here. If you clean it enough you will likely find that the tang is iron and the blade is steel -- probably shear steel. The transition between the two will be visible near the bolster on the reverse side, the side shown.

 

[mangoman]

Table knife blade, with forged bolster and narrow tang and the tip broken off. Might be a carving knife, if large enough. Not likely a butcher knife.

Hunting knife is not a possibility IMO as hunting knives were simply butcher knives until sport hunting became a popular pastime in the late 1800s, and sport hunting knives weren't made this way.

The marking will be on the opposite side, you are showing the reverse side here. If you clean it enough you will likely find that the tang is iron and the blade is steel -- probably shear steel. The transition between the two will be visible near the bolster on the reverse side, the side shown.

This part of upstate NY was first settled in 1790. Any thoughts re dating this style of knife? Early 1800s, mid? Any suggestions on the best way to clean up a piece like this without hurtin’ it in anyway? I’m learning . Thank you in advance to everyone here! Great forum! Happy hunting!