Here is a little project I've been working on. When I was in London this summer, I picked up this small 19th century pin fire revolver. I thought a companion knife and a presentation box would really "make" this antique. I wanted the box, the lining, and the knife to look as old as the gun so I stained the felt, antiqued the knife, and oxidized the brass on the box. Upon researching the gun I found out it was made sometime between 1846 and 1877 (from the proof marks), most likely in Belgium by a "knock-off" manufacturer who copied the Lafourcheux design. There is no maker on the gun and it has no serial number; just the letters A.G., and a batch number on the cylinder and frame. The finish is white, meaning it is bare steel. The knife is a push dagger, or Gimlet knife, forged from tool steel, with a Brazilian Blackwood handle. I coated the steel with a paste made of salt and vinegar for a few hours to get it to oxidize. It has a turned ferrule and steel butt plate. The blade is 4 1/4 inches, the handle 2 1/2 by 2 1/2. It looks every bit as old as the gun. The sheath is made from 4oz leather which I "aged" using a propane torch, wax, dye, and a bit of working it between my hands.
These guns - and this sort of knife - were often used by gentlemen of "ill repute" - crooks, gamblers and pimps. As the Lafourcheux pin fire cartridge was not always reliable to ignite, the knife would make a good back-up weapon, usually slipped into a boot, or in my case, up the sleeve of an evening jacket. The Gimlet knife is held like a cork screw, with the blade protruding between the middle and ring finger. They were particularly popular in the areas around New Orleans and San Francisco in the mid-eighteen hundreds, but were also known and manufactured in Europe during the same time period. A unique conversation piece...
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09-30-2012, 11:30 PM
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