Copyright 2007
G. Gedney Godwin, Inc.
We are on safe ground in assuming that nearly all of the soldiers who fought in the Revolution carried some sort of pocket knife - so many have been found. Many were dug up at camp sites and although badly decomposed from over two centuries in the ground, we were able to determine what they looked like and how they were made so that our reproductions are quite accurate. Other prized collector's items were graciously loaned to me for copying. All are made with carbon steel blades - not stainless - and all have scales of genuine horn or bone. Bolsters are of brass or steel.
Gentleman's Pocket Knife: A half-sized copy of the giant shown in Klinger's "Sketch
Book `76".
[#105B] Bone.
Price:$18.50
[#105] Also available in horn.
Price:$16.50
Valley Forge Knife: Found in the camp area of Valley Forge - half opened.
[#290] Horn.
Price:$18.00
[#290B] Also available in bone.
Price:$20.00
Valley Forge Miniature Knife: The "civilian" off-duty version of the full-size knife
above - a unique everyday knife.
[#292] Horn.
Price:$7.95
[#292B] Also available in bone.
Price:$9.95
Soldier's Knife: [#104] Made with a down-curved tail, so typical of so many 18th century
knives. Horn.
Price: $17.95
Townsman's Knife: [#301] A popular knife judging from the numbers still in existence. Light,
sharp and useful.
Price:$11.95
Townsman's Knife: [#301LO] Similar to the Townsman's Knife listed above. This knife has
a positive lock that holds the blade open. A pull on the rings pulls out the spring
which unlocks the blade. An authentic design.
Price:$13.95
Little Whit'ler: [#384] Made with a one-piece handle cut from horn. Spring is mounted on
back. Original was made with a broken razor blade by some craftsman who refused to throw
away a still useful blade!
Price:12.95
Penny Knife: [#462] One-piece wooden handle with lock-open blade. No spring. Thong
keeps blade closed and helps unlock it.
Price:$11.95
Half Penny Knife: [#461] Poor man's pocket knife. Springless, plain but excellent steel
blade. Copied from an original in our collection. Has "Godwin" maker's mark to
identify it as a "repro".
Price:$7.95
Large French Private Soldier's
Knife: [#350]
Originals found at the Fortress of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, Canada. No springs, polished
wooden handles, excellent steel knife.
Price:$8.95
Small French Private Soldier's
Knife: [#349]
Price:$7.75
Bone Razor: [#453] Copied in-toto from Neumann's "Encyclopedia". Functional
razors-scales are genuine horn or bone - no plastics!
Price:$15.95
Horn Razor.[#320]
Price:$14.95
Whit'ler Razor: [#393] The Original piece from which this and #384 were copied. Even
broken razors were turned to good use in those days!
$14.95
Haversack Knife: [#543] This little unique knife was given to me by a friend. I could not
find any reference for its use during the Revolutionary War, but I suspect it is of an old
design. A little lever unlocks the blade sheath which is withdrawn from the handle. After
swiveling the blade to the open position it is thrust back into the handle where it is
firmly locked by that lever. The blade is 3" long. Opened for use it is 7 1/2"
overall. The bolsters are brass, and the blade is high carbon steel.
Price:$13.95
Knife Sharpening Stone with Holder: This is a "soft" Arkansas stone, You sprinkle water on
it, lay the knife blade on it at about 30 degrees and try very gently to skim off a
microscopic layer of the stone. Turn the knife over and repeat until razor sharp. A light
pressure does it. Clean the stone with an oil or water-wet rag afterwards. The holder is
cut from a solid piece of hardwood. Adapted from a drawing of an original by the well
known military artist George Woodbridge. The stone is 6" long, 2" wide. 1"
thick and fits tightly into its container.
[#537S]: Holder with the Stone.
Price:$19.95
[#537]: Stone only.
Price:$6.95
