Several summers ago, a chance stop at a roadside antique tool shop turned up a real treasure for me.  Stuck away in the corner of the bottom of the old glass case they kept knives in was a simple wood handled knife, with a broad sweeping brass guard.  The sheath looked like it had been made from perhaps an old belt, and was more of a "blade covering" than any kind of sheath to wear the knife in.  There was no provision for retaining the knife or affixing it to a belt of any kind.  Something about the simple shape of the handle and the brass pins, and that oversized fighting guard, really peaked my interest, though.  I asked the owner to see the knife, and he was surprised at my selection.  "No one ever asked about that one before." he said, "Not fancy enough, I guess."  I felt a flush when he said this - I too had overlooked this same knife on a prior trip - I had been in a rush and had just never seen it in the multi-tiered case which was packed with low-end knives and some old bayonets.

    That feeling changed as he brought the knife out and handed it to me, and I knew at once what this knife was meant for.  Even before I withdrew it from the sheath, just holding it in my hands, I knew from that first instant this knife was a fighter.  Removing the old sheath confirmed it, this was a full double edged Toothpick of a dagger, and still a very sharp one at that.  "It's hand made," said the owner, "From the late 1800's."  He went on about how he'd gotten it from an old man who'd passed on who got it from his grandfather...a bunch of names I could hardly keep track of.  We talked on for a good half hour about this and that, but the knife just held my attention, it wanted to move in my hand but I knew that would be the wrong play here - Can't scare the nice folks.

    I didn't know what he would ask for the knife, so I didn't ask, just kept talking to him and his wife.  My fascination with the blade was not overlooked though.  "Like it?" he asked almost rhetorically, amused by my interest.  I told him how much I did, how I liked things from the 1800's (without getting into any detail), and asked him what he wanted for it.  He smiled and though a moment, "How about $30.  No one ever was interested in that old knife anyhow..."

    More than just a good deal, I walked away with a good feeling from talking to those folks.  Just bullshitting with them, the way you do in small towns like where I grew up.  I encounter this so little today - people behind a counter seem so often to resent you, like it's your fault they have to work the job they do, like you are imposing on them by wanting to get something.  These were just honest, nice people.  Next time I was through, maybe 6 months later, he remembered me and asked if I wanted a folding military shovel he'd just gotten and not yet put out for sale.

Length - 13" Overall
Blade - 9" Long and Double Edged
Guard - Thick Brass, Large S-shape 4.5" wide
Handle - 4" Long, Rivited dense hardwood handles.

The 6 knives on the left are new, but the one on the right is the real deal from the 1800's

Note how similar the handles are in profile with this knife and our "Classic 1800's Bowie"

Also note the width of the S-shaped guard.  Unfortunately, you can also see that the handle is a full inch shorter than on the modern knife.  Lily claims this is because the knife is really meant for her smaller hands, and I am at a loss but to agree.  Some women will steal your heart, others your credit-cards, but this one just steals my knives...it's a hard life.