Again, my thanks go out to releventchair for the links to flint fire starters. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site has a blacksmith onsite. His main job is to give demonstrations on early 1800s (Hudson Bay) blacksmithing for visitors. As he is an expert on Hudson Bay (trapping) era, he agreed to look at the knife. He called it a tinder knife. The design was twofold... 1) a sharp edge to whittle off thin wood shavings and 2) use the back side (long bar) as a fire starter. He said the pits in the blade were not corrosion, but from the forging process, where the blacksmith had pounded the blade, but never cleaned (grinded) or smoothed it. He pointed out areas on the surface of the bar (back side/handle) that showed use from a flint striking. So, the good news is that it appeared to have been used as a fire starter at one time. He, like many on this forum, pointed out it could have been created recently or decades ago. He recommends that I take it to a lab that which can then break down exactly what type of steel it is, and from that analysis experts can approximate the age.
I think I'm done researching it. I'm glad to see my tinder knife was once used (outdoorsman/re-enactor?). I learned it wasn't a shaving blade. I learned it was not a trade item.
Now, I just have to keep it away from the reach of my grandchildren!
Thanks everyone!
