Ye Olde Prospector
Well-Known Member
Here is an old knife I found on a ledge in the middle of an island. Found it in 1971 when I was a USCG Lighthouse Keeper on Wood Island out off Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The handle is hand carved and was sun bleached when I found it. The blade was heavily encrusted with rust and had been there long enough to heavily stain the ledge with rust. The blade appears hand forged and fitted to the handle without pins. The blade is fairly thick and flat on one side. Not sure what type wood the handle is but it has super fine ring structure the looks like it would be very hard and dense, nothing local I am sure. Wood Island is one of several so named islands along the Maine coast. It is said that sailing vessels would sometimes stop and scavenge wood for cooking etc at these islands long ago. The Isle of Shoals is not far away and pirate vessels often anchored behind these islands awaiting vessels to plunder on their way to or from Boston as well.
I spoke with the curator at the Maritime Museum here in Bath years ago thinking maybe it was a type knife used in whaling days. He said it was not a shape he was familiar with for fishing or whaling. He suggested may contacting Smithsonian Museum but I never bothered probably hearing from them would be as likely as getting letter from the president. Well I know there are several relic hunters on here so maybe some of you might have some ideas. Just wish some of these old things could talk.
Cliff
I spoke with the curator at the Maritime Museum here in Bath years ago thinking maybe it was a type knife used in whaling days. He said it was not a shape he was familiar with for fishing or whaling. He suggested may contacting Smithsonian Museum but I never bothered probably hearing from them would be as likely as getting letter from the president. Well I know there are several relic hunters on here so maybe some of you might have some ideas. Just wish some of these old things could talk.
Cliff