All About Pocket Knives

I always thought the term for them was patch knife, as one of the main functions when used in blackpowder shooting was to cut off the excess ball patch at the muzzle after seating the ball in the end of it. I imagine just about any knife sharp enough to do the job would fit the bill.

Those are cut down kitchen knives

Miller Bro`s wrote:Those are cut down kitchen knives

I agree.

elbertson wrote:I always thought the term for them was patch knife, as one of the main functions when used in blackpowder shooting was to cut off the excess ball patch at the muzzle after seating the ball in the end of it. I imagine just about any knife sharp enough to do the job would fit the bill.

Right on.

I think the "patch knife" is a relatively recent addition to BP shooting. I'm thinking that "back in the day" when a man was carrying everything he needed to survive, he wouldn't waste a couple of ounces more weight on a wee tiny knife that didn't have much other use when his trusty belt knife would do the same chore.

I've shot charcoal burners for 40 years. I did find that a knife blade that was beveled just on one side made a cleaner cut on a patch but didn't make any difference in accuracy.

Miller Bro`s wrote:Those are cut down kitchen knives

I also agree (the seller states this in his description also). I picked the three of them up for short cash. Like I said it hey are kind of "folk art" to me, cut for perhaps the purpose of having a some type of tool that required a shorten blade from possibly from the 1800s or early 1900s by the looks of the handles. I found them interesting. They will never be worth much but but for the money I had to see them up close.

Draac

Draac wrote:y will never be worth much but but for the money I had to see them up close.

As long as you are having fun, who cares about the money??

The one with the egg shaped handle looks like an oyster shucking knife.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-COLLECTION- ... 2565143a15