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Let's see your Belt or Rifleman's knife

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For as long as I can remember I've been fascinated by edged weapons and accoutrement, particularly from the 18th and 19th century.

Over the years I've become a serious student of what is commonly called the Rifleman's knife or belt knife, in my opinion the most essential of tools for those early American explorers and hunters.

As authentic examples are rare and hard to come by in any condition( they were carried and used!), fortunatly there are a few highly skilled craftsmen who build period correct and useable belt knives well suited for any hunter, shooter or collector.

Please post pics of your own belt knife or rifleman's knife, here are a couple of mine to begin;

Daniel Winkler
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Rich McDonald ( present belt knife)

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Rich McDonald ( previously owned)

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Made out of T-1 Wear Plate off railroad car ,188" thick .
 

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I found this old blade in the barn when grandmaw and grandpaw sold the farm in 1964. I believe about 4 or 5 inches of the tip end were broken off and grandpaw repurposed it and used it for his hog and beef butchering knife. Had no handle. Other day I cut off about 2" of the handle end and stuck a piece of broke hatchet handle on it with a couple of iron pins.





Made an inside the belt sheath for it. Used it other day when old son, his father in law, and I butchered a 750 lb steer. Worked great!



Thar's cool! Did you use cutler's resin on it?
 
You guys have seen the PC knives I use on other threads. Here are a few I bought as a younger i.e dumber man. At the time I thought they were 18th century style knives.
 

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The knife on the bottom has a handle which is from the first deer I got in the 70's, a spike buck. My Dad thought it was worth saving, so I used it for this knife years later. The 5-1/4" blade is from Norway, being hardened steel sandwiched between milder steel. Tarnished brass hilt. Don't know how PC/HC it is.

The top knife blade is a present project. It has a 11-1/2" blade, 16" overall. Not exactly what I was looking for due to the length, but at a cost of 20 bucks it was worth a try. Will drill my own holes for pinning. The handle will look more like JB67's in the 2nd post of this thread. Not sure what wood I'll use. Have some curly maple, ash and osage orange (if my wife lets me take a piece out of one of our hedge apple trees)
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The knife on the bottom has a handle which is from the first deer I got in the 70's, a spike buck. My Dad thought it was worth saving, so I used it for this knife years later. The 5-1/4" blade is from Norway, being hardened steel sandwiched between milder steel. Tarnished brass hilt. Don't know how PC/HC it is.

The top knife blade is a present project. It has a 11-1/2" blade, 16" overall. Not exactly what I was looking for due to the length, but at a cost of 20 bucks it was worth a try. Will drill my own holes for pinning. The handle will look more like JB67's in the 2nd post of this thread. Not sure what wood I'll use. Have some curly maple, ash and osage orange (if my wife lets me take a piece out of one of our hedge apple trees)
View attachment 38204.

That longer knife blade looks really nice, Smooth. I'd opt for the osage orange handle; like the appearance/color of that wood. Looking forward to the finish of your project. ~wiksmo
 
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