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........."
I've always loved that description and it helped inspire this piece that is just in time for Christmas
My idea was make a set that was styled after daggers made along the American Frontier, but also O wanted a piece that could be dated from the late 1700's through the 1800's with minor caveats i.e tha sheaths tacks could be a later addition for instance. The 7 1/2" blade was hand forged by the late Gib Guignard of Cactus Forge with whom I collaborated and still collaborate - our collaborations are known as Cactus Rose and this is #39.
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 with an alum tawed sheepskin cuff and belt loop. Sheath decoration includes: two weeping heart inlays, 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................
