A Catalogue of Early Pennsylvania and Other Firearms and Edged Weapons at "Restless Oaks", McElhattan, Pa.Shoemaker, Henry W. (Henry Wharton)
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A Catalogue of Early Pennsylvania and Other Firearms and Edged Weapons at "Restless Oaks", McElhattan, Pa.
Shoemaker, Henry W. (Henry Wharton)
Firearms -- Catalogs; Weapons -- Catalogs
80. POWDER HORN AND BULLET POUCH.
The 12-inch horn is still fitted with the original tip-plug and
contains a quantity of rifle-powder, of about FFF texture. These
powder-and-bullet sets are now much rarer than the rifles with which
they were used. A fine old pioneer piece.
81. SMALL LEAD-HANDLED DAGGER. L. 7-1/2"
Given to Seth Nelson, Sr., by Bill Long, a famous Clearfield County
hunter.
82. LITTLE ONE-PIECE COPPER KNIFE. L. 5"
Given to Col. Shoemaker by Seth Nelson, Jr., to illustrate the
earliest type of pocket-knife used by the frontiersmen. Of Indian
manufacture and of the size carried by young girls for general use
and, at a pinch, for protection. Made by John Smoke for his daughter.
The Pennsylvania German Gipsies called this sort of knife a "schlor".
A similar knife but larger, made by Smoke was sent by Col. Shoemaker,
to Dr. H. C. Mercer, Doylestown, Pa., 1920.
83. DOUBLE-EDGED FOLDING DAGGER. L. (open) 8-1/2"
Given to Col. Shoemaker by Seth Nelson to illustrate the next type of
frontier pocket-knife.
EDGED WEAPONS, POLEARMS, CLUBS, ETC.
84. SPANISH OR ITALIAN LEFT-HAND DAGGER. L. 20"
Used to parry sword-thrusts in rapier fencing. XVI or XVII Century.
85. IMPROVISED DAGGER MADE FROM TABLE-KNIFE. L. 7"
Blade has been ground down to dagger shape and guard has been added by
twisting wire about hilt. Used by an Italian in Williamsport to murder
his step-daughter.
86. BOWIE KNIFE. L. 10"
Old and rather crudely made. Wooden grip. Has seen Civil War service
and is believed to have been taken from the body of a Confederate
soldier.
87. DAGGER. L. 12-1/4"
Apparently home-made. Hilt made from the handle of an old Barlow
pocket knife. Found in pocket of Lute Shaffer, murderer of Colby
family, Clinton County, 1888.
88. TWO BUTCHER-KNIVES.
Crudely made, with wide blades and rough wooden handles. Used to
dismember the body of a girl who was killed in a family quarrel. This
was the "Pear Tree Murder", told of in Col. Shoemaker's "More
Allegheny Episodes", Ch. II.
89. PENNSYLVANIA MOUNTAIN HUNTING KNIFE. L. 13"
Made and used by John E. Smith, a famous Clearfield County hunter of
the middle Nineteenth Century. Staghorn handle and pewter mountings.
90. SPANISH BULL-FIGHTER'S PUNTILLA. L. 9"
This is the matador's weapon of last resort, to be used when his
espada fails. Spear-pointed. Gift of Count San Juan de Violada, of
Madrid, 1916.
91. TWO SPANISH PICADOR'S LANCE-POINTS. L. 8"
One bears label marked "Union de Picadores de Toros. Mayo, 1918. 75.
Union de Criadores de Toros de Lidia. Delegacion del Norte."
92. ITALIAN ALPINE POACHER'S KNIFE. L. (open) 12"
Folds into horn handle. Has the peculiarly Italian design of
ornamentation, criss-cross lines on the ricasso. Given to Col.
Shoemaker by a former Swiss soldier at Visp, 1926, who took it from
poacher on Swiss-Italian frontier about 1860.
93. ROMAN JAVELIN HEAD. L. 11"
Found in excavation for subway in London.
94. TWO BASQUE FOLDING KNIVES. L. (open) 8"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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