Southern Bear Knife

[T.C.Albert]

This is my attempt at making up a home spun southern bear knife. It isn’t forged from a farriers rasp,
Instead it’s filed out of a hammer forged blank I bought from Rex over at Crazy Crow.
Yes it’s cheating but it was the topic of my latest story and I wanted to make a project
That anyone Else that wanted to could do too. The research into true bear knives was fascinating.
Yep, a lot of cane break bear hunters really did kill a bear with a big knife. In the story I touched
On traditional cane knives too, though finding an example of one to copy has proved impossible so far.
Thanks,
TC

[Levy]

Tim,  I'm always amazed by your projects and wish I was more handy myself.  If you every get tired of owning it, you should let me know.  James Levy

[R.J.Bruce]

I designed a big bowie knife similar to that one, except it was all curves. The blade measured 13.5" long.The main cutting edge was slightly curved all the way out to the point. The false edge was, as I recall, 5.5" long, and intended to be fully sharpened. The hilt was curved in the opposite direction to the blade. It had an S-guard just like yours does. I got the idea for it from a B&W photograph in a knife book that was illustrating an example of a crude, expedient, blacksmith, Southern-made, Civil War,  Bowie/short sword.

Never got the chance to have it made.

[Tim Crosby]

 Tim, I think you told me once but how long is the blade on that Puppy?

    Tim

[G. Elsenbeck]

Love the knife T.C. including that sheath. 

[Greg Pennell]

Another great project...that’s a great looking knife and sheath!  I need to add a large knife/short sword to my kit...someday!  Too many projects, too little time. 

Greg

[Notchy Bob]

Tim,

You mentioned this knife is the topic of your next story.  Would that be in the upcoming issue of Muzzleloader magazine?  I always enjoy your articles, but if this knife is the topic, I am really looking forward to reading the next one.

I had not heard of "bear knives" until just recently.  Coincidentally, I was looking through Ted Belue's The Long Hunt, and saw the story of one Samuel McClellan, whose cabin was invaded by a bunch of buffalo!  McClellan's wife and children were inside. "Vainly did McClellan fire his musket, and when the ammunition was exhausted, he drove his bear knife into the beasts' flanks to try and stop them in their mad course" (page 139).

I was wondering if this was simply referring to the knife that individual carried on his bear hunts, or if the term "bear knife" referred to a specific type or category of frontier cutlery. 

In any event, the outfit you have pictured is outstanding.  I hope to learn more about it in the near future.

Notchy Bob

[Bob McBride]

Yes it is Notchy. Seven pages of yummy knife goodness in the July/August edition.

[G. Elsenbeck]

T.C., can't stop myself after keep viewing this, but per Crocodile Dundee, "That's a knive". 

[Robert Hill]

I do enjoy the look of that knife and I like the idea of a “bear knife.”
       Good work,
                       Robert W. Hill V

[snapper]

That knife appeals to me very much.

Fleener

[Frank Barker]

I love it Tim, you never cease to amaze us with your ingenuity and your craftsmanship. I just received my Muzzleloader Magazine today and as always your article is the first one that I read. The sheath is very nice also, did you make it  ?
Kind Regards
Frank Barker

[sa_handforged]

TC, well done ! that is a good lookin sticker!

Reminds me of early years projects when I had a request for a Seth Kinman Grizzly Dissector.

The history, working use, & intrigue of these type of side companions of tough men never disappoint; Looking forward to the article!

[T.C.Albert]

Thanks again all. Tim, the blade is just
9 1/2 inches long and the whole thing about
14 1/2” overall. Frank, I did make the sheath
too. It’s a leather body bound with a brass chaps
and throat. The frog stud is brass as well.
I like this one well enough but in a real bear fight
I would prefer to have my Natchez “San mai” instead.
Now that’s a knife!
TC

[heinz]

Tim, nice work.   I like the look of it.

[Panzerschwein]

If a bar were still coming after I fired my gun, that is the knife I’d want to poke him with.

[okieboy]

 Mr. Albert, on the subject of cane knives, I am including this photo of a knife that the Carvel Hall Company produced and sold as the "Danial Boone Knife" in about the 1960s. It is based on a knife that was actually Squire Boone's and supposedly made on his estate by his blacksmith. It is thought to be a cane knife. I have seen photos of the original, and it is quite similar (though obviously not stainless steel). The photos of the original seem to have disappeared from the internet.
 The knife is large, if you want dimensions PM me and I will measure my copy.

[T.C.Albert]

Yes, that is the Squire Boone knife I had in mind.
I also suspect it’s a cane knife. That Daniel is documented
As carrying several knives tucked into his belt makes me wonder
If one was indeed for cutting cane especially since he was no stranger
To the vast canebreaks of Kentucky
Thanks for posting that image
TC