Confederate folding pocket knife turns up in antique shop

[Wyatt Earp]

I mentioned awhile back that a friend of mine, who visits each summer on his way to and from a big music festival, had found the knife in the attached photos at an antique shop. The asking price....with which Larry did not quibble...was a paltry 60 dollars. The knife had been brought in by an elderly gentleman who said it had been in his family. Larry didn't know that the Goose and goslings was the state seal of the Confederate State of Louisiana.

I thought you all might enjoy seeing this. I've no idea what it's worth, but it is sure an uncommon find. All the better because it was not "dug".

Wyatt Fawley

[boobieinPa]

That is a truly great find. I would have snapped it right away. He is very lucky to have seen it in the shop.

[NB Digger]

Actually it is a Pelican!!!! ....but close enough. Nice knife!
Travis

[Wyatt Earp]

You learn something every day.....Thanks. I can tell Larry to stop calling his Pelican a Goose.

I wish I'd have found it. I think it's possibly unique....obviously handmade.

Wyatt

[raw-war-digger]

Hey Wyatt,
From my knowledge of pocket knives I will state that the knife was home made (best I can tell the markings on the master blade is stamped/engraved showing that) and that Master blade has been made from a file (one can still see the cross section lines). The handles appear to be made of Bone with an inlay emblem. The Tang end (blades pivot end) Bolster seems to be of a (maybe brass?). The Louisiana State Seal Bolster seems to be made of a different type metal (maybe German Silver)? The knife was made in the Jack pattern (both blades on one end) but I couldn't give a clue to it's actual age.

It's a Very Nice Find!!
Thanks For Showing It!
HH, Roger

[Wyatt Earp]

Actually Roger, both bolsters are german silver. The end where the blades are attached has tarnished a bit more, but Larry never cleaned it. It's just the way it was found. I knew the blade was made from a file....but I wonder if that's a soldier's (Veteran's) name on the blade?

Wyatt

[Crazy Greek]

Wyatt,
That's some nice find there for sure! Isn't often we can see a knife (especially a folding one) that old in that good of shape.

From what I can see on the main blade, you may be right in thinking that is a Veterans name stamped in there. It looks to me like it reads "H Martin". I decided to try and find some Confederate records for ya and came across this site......http://www.lascv.org/bindex.htm

Interestingly enough, if you go to the section where a "Martin" would be listed had there been one, you will find this listed.......
Martin, Henry, Corpl. Co. E, Chalmette Regt. La. Mil. (also borne on Rolls of 13th La. Inf. as
Pvt. Co. H.) En. Sept. 11, 1861, Camp Moore, La. Rolls June, 1862, to April, 1864, Present. Roll
to Aug. 31, 1864, Absent, wounded July 28, 1864, in Hospl. Rolls Nov., 1864, to April, 1865,
Present. Roll of Prisoners of War, C. S. A., paroled Meridian, Miss., May 14, 1865. Res. New
Orleans, La.


If you don't know, Chalmette it's a little town just down from New Orleans. Actually, the town where the Battle Of New Orleans was fought in 1814 where Jackson and Lafitte whipped the British.


You wouldn't happen to know where this antique shop was located where the knife was purchased would you?


Wouldn't that be a hoot if this was the actual original owner of the knife? I may not get to get out with the detector to good areas much, but researching this stuff can be fun too!


Just for what it's worth. Ya never know.....;)


Bill (Crazy Greek)