Old Knife ID

Jerry1NJ · Mar 2, 2009

I found this homemade knife in the woods while detecting about 10 years ago. It was near an old foundation. The handle is stone. Any help with id will help. Thanks.

Montana Jim · Mar 2, 2009

That's an amazing find as far as I'm concerned!

If it's a one of a kind home made knife I can't see how we can ID it... $:-\$

Maybe you can at least date it by the amount of rust it's taken on compared to other things found nearby?

Or maybe - if yer lucky, someone in NJ has found similar objects... I guess that's a possible way to get an ID.

Good luck!

thrillathahunt · Mar 2, 2009

I agree. It is amazing! I have never seen anything like it.

Congratulations on a rare find!

Rick

Montana Jim · Mar 2, 2009

just-geese said:
Jerry
Are you sure that the handle is stone and not petrified bone?
J-G

Or... better yet... baked clay! How else would it have been formed around the knife?

Jerry1NJ · Mar 2, 2009

Yep, its baked clay. Looks like they made the blade and formed the clay handle around it and baked it. The notches for the fingers were made before baking. The handle is straight.

Bigcypresshunter · Mar 3, 2009

I realize this is not the same but I have an old knife with a rock or marble like handle.

pegleglooker · Mar 3, 2009

hey brother,
I've seen those EVERYDAY while walking the yard at D block in Folsom!!!!! It's called a SHANK brother.

Just kiddin
PLL

mojjax · Mar 3, 2009

It looks like it would be good for shucking clams and oysters . Any Native American middens / shellheaps around that area ?

Woodland Detectors · Mar 3, 2009

That is a nice artifact and would look very nice in my display!! lol...nice find indeed

NGE · Mar 4, 2009

knice knife

I have made homemade knives with Bondo for a handle, Make a blade mix up enough bondo to fill a toilet paper tube, just before it gets hard, peel off tube and squeeze and hold till hard. Remove hand then sand n shape to fit......NGE

Jerry1NJ · Mar 5, 2009

It was a native american area. Also the marshlands are nearby.

ivan salis · Mar 5, 2009

homemade native american --baked clay with steel blade -- oyster shucker / general purpose knife -- would be my WAG -- and by the way -- to me it clearly seems to be a one of a kind type custom job I think.. (so no "stock" maker ID will "fit it")

Bigcypresshunter · Mar 6, 2009

mojjax said:
It looks like it would be good for shucking clams and oysters . Any Native American middens / shellheaps around that area ?

I think mojjax got it. Scroll down in Customs, Culture and Traditions.
http://www.philadelphia-reflections.com/topic/54.htm

Oyster Knife

Local citizens of Sussex County, Delaware, report no one alive remembers when or how the custom began. In the nature of such things, a certain amount of historical inaccuracy is thus to be expected. It certainly did start out as an all-male event, taking place in the fire house. One inflexible requirement is that a participant must bring his own oyster knife, which is a very heavy chunk of iron with a short blade attached, sort of like a screwdriver. The ones I have seen are all one piece of iron, suggesting they have been hammered out in a blacksmith shop. The flattened-out blade serves as an eating utensil, as well as a wedge to pry open the oyster shell.