Very correct Elnathan. Also surviving single edged knives with guards are rare to non-existent, nor will you find brass fittings or pins. Iron reigned supreme in knife construction. The majority of double edged daggers however, usually have a guard of some kind. What we call rifleman's knives today, seem to have most likely never existed, except a for a few repurposed broken sword knives. Although we knifemakers often make these fantasy knives, if any ever existed they would have been an anomaly. As Elnathan stated, the general carry knives were the common trade scalpers and butchers with beechwood grips, boxwood, or exotic woods, but never curly maple unless the owner installed them himself, and why bother when such knives were so common and inexpensive. They were a use um up, throw away, buy another type item. On occasion a repurposed kitchen/eating knife shows up. We knifemakers are no different than other commercial craftsmen. Within reason, we make what people like, and what sells. That is the truth of the matter. At least as I know it.
