Old Dominion Forge Knives

KNIVES

ALL Knives are hand forged in my shop from spring steel, hardened and tempered to hold an edge, yet sharpen easily. Each blade is draw-filed and polished, by hand, to produce a period-correct finish. Handles are of Wood, Antler, Horn, and Bone, and are assembled using hand-made copper rivets. Blades can be ordered satin polished, or they can be lightly aged.

SHEATHS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL KNIVES

Sheaths can be made for any knife not already listed with one. These are available for a slight additional cost.

Currently for Sale

SOLD-Antler Handle Belt Knife with 6 1/4 inch blade. 10 1/2 inches overall. Pewter bolster and aged finish. $225

SOLD-Bag Knife with 4 5/8 inch blade. Scalloped pewter bolster, aged finish. $150

SOLD-Bag Knife with 4 3/4 inch blade. Pewter bolster, aged finish. $150

SALE PENDING-Gentleman's Pen Knife with Antique Ivory scales Integral forged bolster. Scales are real antique elephant ivory. 3 3/8 inch blade, 7 1/8 inches overall. Bright polished finish. $175

Lion Head Knife based on an original as seen in Madison Grant's The Knife in Homespun America, this knife features a handle cast in fine pewter. At least a couple examples of this type are known to exist, the one in Grant's book was found in Ohio with a history of Indian use. The lion motif distinguishes this knife as an early piece, most likely mid-late 18th century. I hand-carved the pattern for the handle, which is cast, polished and an aged finish applied. The 4 inch blade is also lightly aged. Handle length 3 3/4 inches. $225

SOLD-Bag Knife with 5 inch blade and 3 3/4 inch crown antler handle. Pewter Bolster and aged finish. $150

SOLD-Antler-Handle Belt Knife with 6 1/4 inch blade and 4 1/4 inch crown antler handle. Pewter Bolster and aged finish. $225

SOLD-Scottish Knife with 6 inch blade and 4 1/2 inch stag handle. Tang passes through handle and is riveted over an iron butt cap. Very decorative file-work on back of blade. Aged finish. $235

Original

SOLD-Small French Forged Bolster Knife based on the original knife above. The original was found in upstate New York. 4 inch blade with forged intregal forged bolster. Cow horn scales and aged finish. 8 inches overall. $265

Scottish Knife with 6 inch blade and 4 1/2 inch stag handle. Tang passes through handle and is riveted over an iron butt cap. Aged finish. Comes with sheath.

$255

SOLD-French Trade Knife with sheep's foot blade. The original trade knives this was patterned after date back to the 1500's, though the styles were continued in use for quite some time. Similar knives have been found in North America in areas of French influence. This knife features a 6 inch blade, brass ferrule, and boxwood handle, as was common on many of these trade knives. Handle has carved designs. The through tang is riveted over an iron butt cap. Aged finish. $245

SOLD-Small Dagger by Tim Ridge of Swamp Fox Forge. Knife is in new condition with double edged blade and median ridge. Tang is riveted over an iron washer. 5 1/4 inch blade, 8 3/4 inches overall. Comes with sheath. $225

Dagger by Tim Ridge of Swamp Fox Forge. Knife is in new condition with double edged blade and median ridge. Turned curly maple handle. Tang passes through handle and is riveted over an iron washer. Iron ferrule and forged guard5 1/4 inch blade, 8 3/4 inches overall. Comes with an embossed leather sheath. $250

Early French Trade Knife made by Ken Hamilton. Intregal bolster. 4 3/8 inch blade, 8 1/8 inch overall. Boxwood handle, as the originals. $65

Recently Sold Knives

SOLD-Broken Sword Knife The idea behind this knife is that it was made from a hunting sword (or cuttoe) that had either been broken or intentionally shortened for service as a knife. There are several original examples of swords that have been converted to use as a knife. This piece features a hand forged 10 1/4 inch blade, 5 1/4 inch handle. The cow horn grip is carved in a spiral pattern. The shell guard is hand forged. It also features a iron butt cap, pommel cap and ferrule. Aged finish.

SOLD-Broken Sword Knife This knife is built as if it were made from a broken, or cut-down model 1742 hanger. The hanger could have been English, or American manufacture, utilizing spare parts. Everything on the knife is made as if it had been built using the original sword components. The guard appears as if cut down from the original heart shaped guard and the bow removed. The brass ball pommel has the hole where the tang of the guard connects filled crudely, as if it were plugged with lead-solder. The walnut handle shows wear consistent with a piece that was decommissioned from military service. The substantial blade is made as if the original sword blade were cut down and has a deep aged finish. The whole piece has been aged and is consistent with a piece that might have been put together by the local blacksmith. Blade length 10 3/4 inches, handle length 6 inches.

Plug Bayonet Copy of an original recently made for a New York State historic site. 12 inch blade, brass hardware, walnut handle. Aged finish.

French Trade Knife Aged blade, horn scales.

SOLD-Pistol Grip Butcher Knife with Forged Bolster This one pairs our popular pistol grip style with a forged bolster. These knives were very common in England and Europe and exported to the colonies. This is a "no frills" butcher knife, very typical of the "common quality" knives of the day. The scales are cut from pressed cow horn, still showing some rasp marks. Integral forged bolster, aged finish, 8 1/2 inch blade (cutting edge), 13 3/4 inches overall.

SOLD-Belt Knife with carved design work. Through tang is riveted over iron butt cap. Pewter bolster. 8 3/8 inch blade, 5 inch handle. Aged finish.

SOLD-Rifleman's Knife with forged iron guard and butt cap. 9 1/8 inch blade, 5 inch polished antler handle. Through tang is riveted over butt cap. Iron ferrule. Aged finish.

SOLD-Horn Handle Longknife 9 inch blade, 5 inch cow horn handle. Iron butt cap and pewter bolster. Full length tang is rived over butt cap. Aged finish.

SOLD-French Trade Knife with sheep's foot blade. The original trade knives this was patterned after date back to the 1500's, though the styles were continued in use for quite some time. Similar knives have been found in North America in areas of French influence. This knife features a 6 1/4 inch blade, brass ferrule, and polished antler handle with carved designs. The through tang is riveted over an iron butt cap. Aged finish.

SOLD-Rifleman's Knife 9 1/2 inch blade, 5 inch handle. Forged iron guard, iron ferrule and butt cap. Full length tang is rived over butt cap. Polished antler handle. Aged finish.

SOLD-Knife with forged Bolster A slightly smaller version of our full-sized forged bolster knife, this one has a 7 3/4 inch blade (cutting edge). Integral forged bolster; half-length, full tang; crown antler handle; aged finish.

SOLD-Turned Handle Knife This knife was made for John Curry and recently traded on a new knife that I made for him. John has carried this knife for the last few years on many treks and has shown it at several seminars. The knife shows considerable use and has been left, just as John used it. The knife has a 9 1/4 inch blade and 5 inch, dark cherry handle. The through tang is riveted over an iron butt cap. All metal parts have a deep, aged finish.

SOLD-Belt Knife with cherry handle and iron guard. Tang passes through handle and is riveted over iron butt cap. 8 inch aged blade, 5 inch handle.

SOLD-Knife with forged Bolster This large knife has a 9 inch blade (cutting edge) and is 13 1/2 inches overall. Integral forged bolster; half-length, full tang; crown antler handle; aged finish.

SOLD-Knife with forged Bolster I don't make a lot of knives with forged-in bolsters; for a good reason, they are a lot of work. However, they make for a really neat knife. This one has a 8 1/4 inch blade (cutting edge) and is 13 1/4 inches overall. Integral forged bolster; half-length, full tang; crown antler handle; aged finish.

Sold - European Hunting Dirk with 7 5/8 inch blade. Very lightly aged iron hardware and polished stag handle. Sheath with belt loop, made to wear under belt or sash.

Sold - Small Dagger that I recently made for a customer. Iron mountings and English walnut burl handle.

SOLD-Small Belt Knife with 6 1/2 inch blade, 10 3/4 inch overall. Pewter bolster and Sterling silver butt cap with punch-design work. Tang passes through the elk antler handle and is riveted over cap. Aged finish.

SOLD-Belt Knife with octagon to round walnut handle, iron guard, ferrule and butt cap. Full tang passes through handle and is riveted over cap. Blade length 7 1/2 inches, 4 3/4 inch handle. Aged finish.

SOLD- Knife with forged Bolster This knife features what would have most likely been a high-quality European made blade re-handled here in the colonies. The aged steel blade features an integral forged bolster and an inset "wedding band" of pewter at the bolster, which is decorated with punched designs. Crown antler handle. The cutting edge measures 6 1/2 inches, 11 1/2 inches overall.

SOLD-Belt Knife with 6 1/4 inch slightly upswept, spear-point blade. 10 3/8 inch overall. Pewter bolster.

EARLY PLUG BAYONET copied from an original in Swords and Blades of the American Revolution, this bayonet was recently made for a customer. Features cast brass hardware, walnut handle and 12 inch aged blade with a 6 inch false edge.

SOLD - Pistol Grip Butcher Knife Many times the pistol grip knives are thought to be French in origin, but the truth is they were quite popular in England and other European countries as well. This is a "no frills" butcher knife, very typical of the "common quality" knives of the day. The scales are cut from pressed from cow horn, still showing some rasp marks. Pewter bolster and 8 1/2 inch aged blade.

SOLD - Small European Hunting Dirk with polished bone handle, and iron ferrule and butt cap. Tang is full length and is riveted over butt cap. 5 5/8 inch, satin polished blade, 4 3/8 inch handle.

SOLD-Backwoods Knife with polished antler handle, pewter bolster and iron butt cap. 7 1/2" lightly aged blade. 5" handle. Full length tang passes through handle and is riveted over butt cap.

SOLD-18th Century Dagger. Tapering 8 3/8 inch, double-edged blade with well defined median ridge. Iron guard, ferrule, and butt cap. Tang is full length and is rived over butt cap. The round, dark cherry-wood has a hand-rubbed linseed oil finish. Handle measures 5 1/8 inches and flares to the cap with flattened sides. Aged finish.

SOLD-Pistol Grip Butcher Knife Many times the pistol grip knives are thought to be French in origin, but the truth is they were quite popular in England and other European countries as well. This is a "no frills" butcher knife, very typical of the "common quality" knives of the day. The scales are cut from pressed from cow horn, still showing some rasp marks. Pewter bolster and 8 3/8 inch aged blade. $245

SOLD-Rifleman's Knife - with hand-forged iron guard, crown antler handle, and through tang riveted over a sterling silver butt cap. Aged finish. 9 inch blade.

SOLD-Turned Handle Knife - Imported knives of this style were very popular and inexpensive in colonial times. Often they were copied in this country and made of local woods. This knife features a cherry handle, stained dark with a hand-rubbed, linseed oil finish. Iron bolster and iron butt cap. Tang is full length and is riveted over butt cap. 8 inch, aged blade. 5 inch handle.

SOLD-Turned Handle Knife - This knife features a curly maple handle with very tight, exceptional grain, stained dark with a hand-rubbed, linseed oil finish. Pewter bolster and iron butt cap. Keeping with the English style, the 7 3/8 inch, aged blade has a very slight upsweep . 5 inch handle.

SOLD- Turned Handle Knife with osage orange handle, steel ferrule, aged blade and iron butt cap. Tang passes through handle and is riveted over cap. Aged finish.

SOLD-Small knife with green, bone handle. 6 1/2 inch blade. The handles of cutlery were often dyed various colors during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many recipes for dying bone, ivory and wood can be found in the period publication "A handmaid to the Arts". Verdigris green was a very popular color.

SOLD-Antler Handle Knife with face carving. Inspired by an original knife seen in Madison Grant's Knife in Homespun America, this knife features a folk carving of an 18th century judge on it's crown. Aged with a 6 inch blade, it has a curve that would be best suited to left handed use.

SOLD-Carved Antler Handle Knife - A variation on the knife above, this one features the face of a colonial man. 5 3/4 inch aged blade. This knife would best be suited to right handed use.

SOLD-Bag Knife - 5 3/8 inch blade, 9 3/4 inches overall. Aged finish.

SOLD -Bag Knife - 5 1/2 inch blade. Aged finish.

SOLD-Turned Handle Knife - This knife features a curly maple handle with exceptional grain, stained dark. The tang of the knife passes through the handle and is riveted over a steel butt cap. 6 inch aged blade and 4 1/4 inch, palm filling handle with steel ferrule. Aged finish.

SOLD-Turned Handle Knife - This knife has a 5 inch stained, osage handle. Tang passes through handle and is riveted over a steel butt cap. Aged finish. 7 1/2 blade.

SOLD Sword Knife - Made to resemble a cut-down English hunting sword. Aged and fullered blade. Carved horn grip and iron mounts. 9 inch blade.

SOLD-Scottish Knife A style that was very popular in Scotland and Europe. Triangular shaped blade with the typical file-work on the top. This knife has a pewter bolster and stag elk handle. Blade length is 6", 9 7/8 inches overall. Aged finish.

Scottish Dirk - Scottish Dirk with fully carved, blackwood handle. Aged blade

SOLD Early Scottish Dirk. Aged blade and carved osage orange handle.

SOLD-Trade Knife - with pistol handle. Bone grips and pewter bolster. 8 1/4 inch blade.

SOLD Rifleman's Knife with Iron Guard. 9 1/2" blade.

SOLD-European Hunting Knife recently made for a customer. Aged iron hardware, polished antler handle.

SOLD - Rifleman's Knife 8 5/8 inch blade, 13 3/4 inch over all. Forged iron guard, iron ferrule and butt cap. Full length tang is rived over butt cap. Polished antler handle. Aged finish.

SOLD-Rifleman's Knife with 8 inch blade and iron guard. Aged finish.

SOLDIERS

OTHER ITEMS FROM THE FORGE

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Send email to Old Dominion Forge

Or, write to:

Old Dominion Forge, Kyle Willyard, Prop.

RR5 Box 83N

Bloomfield, IN 47424

812-875-8480