My Inlaws Butch and Missy who are some of the nicest folks you could meet gifted me this Frank Roberson knife for Christmas this year. The blade is a small custom made full tang sheath knife that right away I knew would be a perfect addition to my flint lock kit.
Frank Roberson is a knife maker from Irving Texas who has been crafting blades since 1991. He used ATS-34 steel and favored sheephorn, ivory and other natural materials for handle scales. The knife is not new but came from the collection of Missy's stepfather Hollis "Howdy" Howes who was a collector of knives and Native American artifacts who lived in Mineral Wells, Texas.
The tang of the knife has carving of a vine motif on the top and bottom. This embellishment I really like.
Here's the knife secure in it's new home:
Colonial riflemen often carried a small "patch" knife on a thong around their neck that was used to trim patch material from around the ball as they loaded their muzzle loading rifles. A good patch knife has been missing from my rig and I am pleased to finally fill in the missing puzzle piece with this fine steel. I lashed the sheath to the strap of my shooting bag with a couple leather laces to keep the knife handy and at the ready.
