Tool Handle American Belt Knife

A nice rather large tool handle knife measuring 12 inches overall with an 6 1/2 inch hand forged blade. The handle has a brass bolster which is made from a sheet of brass and then brazed to form the round conforming to the turned tool handle. This feature (the brazed sheet forming the "ring") dates this knife pre-1820 which is when extruded pipe was available and these round bolsters could simple be cut from a pipe section rather than the laborous forming and brazing of the earlier knives.

Condition: Excellent. No flaws. The sheath is modern, made by Tim Albert.

Provenance:  Jim Dressler