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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: agreeneyes on February 08, 2009, 11:16:07 AM
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ONCE AGAIN I'VE COME TO THE EXPERTS. MY HUSBAND FOUND THIS IN THE GROUND ON AN OLD 300 ACRE TOBACCO FARM IN LILLINGTON N.C. IN 1967. HE WAS STATIONED AT FORT BRAGG AND WAS HELPING HIS FRIEND WHO'S FAMILY OWNED THE FARM DISC THE FIELD AND THIS POPPED UP FROM UNDER THE GROUND.
IT'S VERY RUSTY AND APPEARS TO BE HAND FORGED. THE BLADE MEASURERS 8 INCHES AND ENTIRE DAGGER IS APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES LONG. I'M NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF HANDLE THIS HAD BUT IT WAS MISSING WHEN HE FOUND THIS.
I'M CURIOUS AS TO THE AGE AND POSSIBLY IS THERE ANY VALUE FOR A COLLECTOR, IT APPEARS TO BE VERY OLD, BUT I'M NOT THE EXPERT.
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Highly possible it had a wooden handle that rotted over time due to exposure - typically there were end caps on wooden handles that this seems to have. Need to do some thinking on this. Hopefully someone will pipe in soon! Interesting Find! Any history on the farm available? When started - by who - pre-slavery or post....
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I FOUND THIS GOING THROUGH SOME STUFF AND ASKED MY HUSBAND ABOUT IT. HE REALLY HAD TO THINK ON THIS ONE BECAUSE IT WAS OVER 40 YEARS AGO. HE COMPETED IN RODEOS WHILE HE WAS STATIONED AT FORT BRAGG AND BECAMES FRIENDS WITH A GUY WHO WAS ALSO COMPETING AND IT WAS HIS FAMILIES FARM. MY HUSBAND WANTED TO SEE THE FARM AND IT'S OPERATION SO HE WAS INVITED TO COME AND THAT'S WHEN HE FOUND THIS HELPING TO DISC THE FIELD. WHEN IT WAS UNCOVERED HIS FRIEND JUST CONSIDERED IT JUNK AND TOLD MY HUSAND HE COULD KEEP IT THAT'S ABOUT ALL WE KNOW. IT'S BEEN IN A BOX SINCE THEN.
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Interesting relic. It's almost the shape of an 'Arkansas Toothpick'. Obviously, not a utilitarian knife/blade. My guess would be that it dates back to the Civil War. There are people that deal with Civil War items and they may be able to shed some light on it. One guy appears often on the Antiques Roadshow. Maybe if you Googled him on the Internet he might know something. If it's indeed homemade/forged, we will probably only be able to guess as to it's history. Check closely (even with a loup) if there is any vestiges of writing on the base of the blade. It was made for fighting or use in conflict.
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thank you for all of your help do you think is it something a collector might be interested in?
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I'm sure some collectors would be interested. Without any markings, I doubt it's worth much. I'm sure a North Carolina museum would be interested but they prefer donations.
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I agree! There are always collectors for something.
Don't forget, even if you donate to a non-profit - it is tax deductible!!!! Maybe not cash in you pocket in the beginning - but ultimately!
Are there any tricks to seeing if there are markings - that won't ruin the rest of the integrity of the metal?
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I've looked it over and I'm unable to see any marks but it is extremely rusty from being in the ground that many years. I'm thinking if I clean it that would take away a lot from the value if any but with out cleaning it I'm unable to search for any name
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Use caution as far as any touch up. it's called a spear point for obvious reason's. it could date too the civil war. in which case it has a value.
may be the texas Badger will stop in and say something.
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If you do a google. there certainly' was civil war activity in that area. I would'nt be a bit surprised to find you have relic.
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thank you I appreciate all of the information I've received. I'm still trying to research this so far with out any luck. Should I contact a museum?, I haven't seen anything that resembles what I have so far in my research.
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I did get off of my lazy' umm. and took a look at some reference. knive's such as this were done in the southern confederate style.
It's condition is no worse than a battle field dug relic. Value wise I don't think it's worth alot. but every civil war buff in the country is looking for this field!
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thank you, so I should appeal to the civil war buffs?
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Betcha it will. Hang in there and see if the texas Badger will give some advice.
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thank you, I will
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Check the bottom of this site. It's the same blade type.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fortdonelsonrelics.com/images/Weapons/CSSideKnifeFullA.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.fortdonelsonrelics.com/swords.htm&usg=__Usjj3EhUg30rwz9mr-aaB1TiWLM=&h=307&w=448&sz=16&hl=en&start=23&tbnid=CSXckQGkzbgYqM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcivil%2Bwar%2Bknife%26start%3D18%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
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I agree, Texas Badger seems to have lots of good advice on these type of items. So, keep checking back....
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I most definitely will, thank you
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Yes I agree with all of the above, wouldnt hurt to wipe it down with oil or soak it in high quality oil to stop the rust, some suggest spraying it with laquer but that seals the blade possibly causing damage should someone down the line decide to take it off. Depending on how deep the rust is sometimes markings can be brought up on blade near crossguard by rubbing with a penny but oil it first,,,will take the rust off and wont scratch steel. Let me know what your plans are with this blade as Im sure it would find a home should you decide to sell. Ive got a few civil war collectors Ill contact today and see what their estimates are based of course on condition.
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And please include a detailed ''map'' to this field. just kidding but it may still be just a field. nothing built on it yet.
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Okay heres what the collectors say, ground dug relics sell best on the east coast, the main value of this item is the provenance or where it came from. Get a notarized letter done from your husband detailing the find and store it with the blade should you decide to sell. You might also get some tracing paper, the thinner the better and rub a pencil lead over both sides of the blade where it would join the handle forward of the handguard to see if any markings show up that arent visible to the eye. If you could find some marks linking it to the Confederate side of the conflict that would increase value. Right now all you have is a ground dug Arkansas toothpick type weapon with a story as to where it came from. Suprisingly all sources state Ebay is a likely way to get an better audience and values varied from $100 to $350 guestimates as to how it would do on auction. Hope this helps
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thank you for all of your help and suggestions, they're very much appreciated
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I received an email from someone that said my dagger/knife looks more like revolutionary war because of the blade and the guard. I think it could be a possibility because the revolutionary war was fought in North Carolina also, I was wondering what the experts think?
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I will stick to the civil war. there was battles fought there in 1865. last year of the war. here's and E-mail address to the battlefield museum.
bpearce@nc.rr.com ask them' if they will take a look.
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thank you I just emailed them, maybe they can shed some light on this item.
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Id say color of rusting and level of corrosion puts it in the civil war period,,,a nice blacksmith made side knife that someone paid the village/town blacksmith to make. Unless its marked thats where most of the side knives were made.
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Because of all of the answers I received from the experts from Antique Shop, I emailed Heritage Auction and their civil war expert gave me an estimate of $600-$800 which surprised me. Because it's below their minimum of $5000.00 they're not interested in listing it but they took the time to email me. I want to thank everyone for all of the help and information that was provided to me. With that knowledge I have now listed this on Ebay, so we'll see what happens.
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It did settle the Question.it was civil war. and not a bad value to go along with it. keep us posted.
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I will, and I'll be contacting you again soon. I purchased a 1930's-1940's waterfall bedroom set, with dresser, vanity, mirror headboard and footboard and nightstand. As soon as I can take some pictures I'll be asking for your opinion. I've tried to research this a little myself and I discovered that these are collectible I'm just wondering why because from what I read they're made out of a veneer over wood and are very light in weight.
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-12-CIVIL-WAR-RELIC-HAND-FORGED-KNIFE-DAGGER_W0QQitemZ380103733747QQihZ025QQcategoryZ36037QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-12-CIVIL-WAR-RELIC-HAND-FORGED-KNIFE-DAGGER_W0QQitemZ380103733747QQihZ025QQcategoryZ36037QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
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thank you, this is my item listed on ebay