Frontier Dagger: A Xmas CactusRose #39

ChuckBurrows

ChuckBurrows

Well-Known Member
Here's how James Kirker was described by one of Doniphan's Missouri Regiment in 1846:
"Fringed buckskin shirt and breeches, heavy broad Mexican hat, huge spurs, all embellished and ornamented with Mexican finery......In addition to a Hawkens rifle elegantly mounted and ornamented with silver inlaid on the stock, he was armed with a choice assortment of pistols and Mexican daggers........."
Click to expand...

I've always loved that description and it helped inspire this piece that is just in time for Christmas :D
- this one was styled after daggers made along the American Frontier from the late 1700's through the late 1800's. The 7 1/2" blade of 1084 steel was hand forged by the late Gib Guignard of Cactus Forge. The grip is white tail deer leg bone with a rawhide wrap and linen thread overwrap at three places, a brass double guard, and some brass tacks for decoration.
The sheath has a bark tan leather core, deer rawhide cover and alum tawed sheepskin cuff and belt loop. Sheath decoration includes two weeping heart inlays (a common deco motif of the period), glass pound beads, hand cut wrought iron tacks, and tin cone tinklers with horse hair tufts. There is a simple leather whang retention strap decorated with a tin cone, brass, and glass beads.
Hope ya'll enjoy - this is one of my favorites and it all came together "smoothly" - many others do not................

cr-39-2010-001.jpg


cr-39-2010-002.jpg


cr-39-2010-003.jpg


cr-39-2010-004.jpg
 
That's a beauty, really like the bead work on the sheath too. Little filework on the blade and guard is a nice touch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top