ID Help "Fur Trade" Knife/Dagger & Fork?

[RockChuck]

ID Help "Fur Trade" Knife/Dagger & Fork?

Dagger/Knife is approx. 5” long, steel blade, brass guard, two hammered pin type rivets to hold antler handle.

The fork is approx. 6” long, steel body, two hammered pin type rivets to hold antler handle. They were excavated pieces found in the 1950s along the Columbia River.

No ID marks that I can see. Are they Fur Trade Period?

Thanks in advance... David

 

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[scratcher]

Re: ID Help "Fur Trade" Knife/Dagger & Fork?

Hi David. Forks like that are from the era in question. I have found several pieces from one like you have. Do you know how they were found?

 

[RockChuck]

Re: ID Help "Fur Trade" Knife/Dagger & Fork?

Scratcher - In the early 1950s, archaeologist Dr. Luther S. Cressman and University of Oregon students excavated what they called the Roadcut Site near Celilo, before water from The Dalles Dam covered up the falls in 1957. Cressman ordered the top two feet of the site to be bladed-off in order to remove the historic period relics. He was looking for prehistoric cultural materials to develop a chronology for the mid Columbia River. Members of Oregon Arch. Soc. participated in the excavations and were given authorization to screen the bladed-off tailings. That is how these were recovered.

It is believed they may be related to the Hudson Bay Co out of Fort Vancouver circa 1825-1850. I'd like to obtain confirmation from some of the experienced folks here on TreasureNet. I'm a novice with this kind of item.

... David

 

[RockChuck]

Re: ID Help "Fur Trade" Knife/Dagger & Fork?

Got a message suggesting the blade might a "DAG Knife."

...Any thoughts?

David

 

[RockChuck]

Re: ID Help "Fur Trade" Knife/Dagger & Fork?

Hello David...these items appear to be typical of the time period of 1800 to 1860 and the fork especially looks like the typical civil war period two pronged utensil.

The knife appears to be a blacksmith field made small "patch knife"...a small knife used to cut cloth or paper patches for flintlock and cap and ball guns and were common equipment for the frontiersman and often you see a patch knife and sheath integrated into the strap of a mountain man or frontiersman's shoulder bag filled with hunting and gun accoutrements. (email from Mike Raunig)

 

[Lucas]

Re: ID Help "Fur Trade" Knife/Dagger & Fork?

The dagger is "home made" and similar to a couple others I know of from fur trade sites. It is not a "trade knife" or a pattern associated with any company. Definitely not a dag.

The fork is a common type from the late 18th century into the early 19th century. It was not made in the Civil War era, but they were still around then. Hey, how many of us have 25 to 50 year old forks hanging around? I know My parents do.