All About Pocket Knives

I was digging around last week and found my Billy Watson knives. A good friend of mine who is passed away now always held Billy in high regard. My friend had several of Billy's knives including a couple of folders. I bought a few from Billy before he stopped making knives. At one time, Billy was a regular on the 18th century rendezvous circuit. Here is my collection of Billy Watson knives.
Any of y'all have a Billy Watson knife?

Mike

I don't have any but those look like very sturdy, well built knives.

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Mike

Yep, well made.... Billy was a well known knife maker from back in the 1980's. He always had some nice knives at the 18th century rendezvous my friend went to. I would occasionally send some money and ask my friend to bring me back a knife. One of my "patch knives" has a short starter on one side.
Mike

Mike, that starter is pretty neat. What caliber?
I'm guessing that wasn't common but something Watson was creative with.
It just got the ball in the end of the tube, right.

Yep, my friend that was a total black powder, 18th century fanatic suggested this to Billy. Billy put a thin layer of brass under the starter to line all the steel so there would be no chance of a spark.
The short starter part gets the ball down into the rifling far enough past the "break point" that you can cut your patch off and push the ball on down onto the powder. one loading tool takes the place of 2. This one was my all time favorite short starter / patch knife. Works great!

I didn't know why a "patch knife" was called a patch knife, nor did I know what a "starter" was. Now I do!

That is a very cool group of knives Mike.

Glad I could give a little enlightenment....LOL.
Yep, I was almost as rabid at one time about shooting the old muzzle loaders. I have a few I built (all flint locks....FUN!!)
I haven't shot much since my friend passed. I need to get back in the saddle.
Thanks for the compliments Ken!

I have a Watson folder and a knife he made out of a piece of cable. He made some really cool Damascus tomahawks. The folder is Damascus and carry it every day since I’ve owned it.

WOW.... I like that folder. I always wanted a billy folder but never got one.
A friend of mine had 2 of Billy's folders.... all beauties!