Integral bolster knife, and a few other things -- myArmoury.com

Chris Goerner

A while back I posted some photos of a new sgian I had acquired. Nathan asked it that knife had an integral bolster -- one that is forged as one piece with the blade. The sgian does not have an integral bolster, but I had promised to post some photos of my belt knife that does. Finally got around to it.

The knife was made by Kyle Willyard and has a slotted half tang mounted in a crown stag grip. Kyle did a really nice job on this knife, getting the balance just perfect with a nice distal taper to the blade. The point drops just enough to be perfectly in line with the axis of the grip.

I've included some photos of other pieces from my collection as well. Enjoy!

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

That is an absolutely fantastic knife. Kyle's work is very impressive. More than that, the entire kit you posted is spectacular. When Sean Flynt or Gordon Frye see this stuff, I think they'll flip out.

Eric L. · Posted: Sat 11 Mar, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject:

A very beautyful set indeed, you must be proud of it.

Chris Goerner · Posted: Sat 11 Mar, 2006 1:25 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your kind words, Nathan. I truely love this hobby and feel very blessed that I've been able to acquire some of the pieces I have.

Thanks once again for allowing all of us to share this passion with each other through myArmoury!

Chris

Henrik Bjoern Boegh · Posted: Sat 11 Mar, 2006 1:41 pm Post subject:

You have a lovely collection, Chris. And you take beatuyful pictures of it! Big Grin

That musket is gorgeous!!!
And I love the looks of the knife and dirk that Kyle Willyard has made for you. Quite a craftsman!
Thanks for sharing!

Cheers,
Henrik

Sean Flynt · Posted: Sat 11 Mar, 2006 2:14 pm Post subject:

Yep...I just flipped out. Razz

Willyard is a master cutler, for sure, and all your arms are outstanding. If I lived in VA, I think I'd finally get bit by the living history bug. Not much down here but ACW Rebs, and a wool uniform in July in Alabama is not my idea of a good time.

If I ever add a colonial knife to my collection, I'm headed to Old Dominion Forge!

Ryan A. C. · Posted: Sat 11 Mar, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject:

I love the knife but I think I love that flintlock more... That's a purty rifle. Eek!

Joe Fults · Posted: Sat 11 Mar, 2006 8:33 pm Post subject:

I think the whole kit is nicely done.

Excellent work by the people who made the bits, and good on you for pulling them together.

Ryan A. C. · Posted: Sat 11 Mar, 2006 8:59 pm Post subject:

Agreed.

Did you purchase the knife directly from him or can his work be found on the internet?

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

Ryan A. C. · Posted: Sat 11 Mar, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject:

I had completely forgotten about the links page. Thanks for the reminder.

Chris Goerner · Posted: Sun 12 Mar, 2006 11:03 am Post subject:

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for your encouraging comments! Here's some more information on questions and comments that have been posted to this thread:

I bought a plug bayonet from Kyle many years ago (and deeply regret having since let it go Sad

) I have bought most of the items I've gotten from him off his website. The prices are a bit high compared to most knife makers catering to reenactors, but I don't think you would every "overpay" for a knife from Kyle. If you can afford one of his knives, you will be getting your money's worth.

The dagger was not made by Kyle Willyard, but by Tim Ridge of Swamp Fox Forge: http://www.swampfoxknives.com/page_4.html Tim does decent work on his knives and tomahawks, though they are not as fine in detail or fit & finish as Kyle's work. Both Tim and Kyle are great to deal with and create pieces very representative of the 18th century. Tim does a lot of 19th century bowie style knives as well.

As for the musket... I bought it at the Eastern Rendezvous several years ago from the maker -- a fellow by the name of McDarmont. It is a 20 bore (.62 caliber) iron mounted Virginia fowler. It has been a great piece for my kit, and shoots well, too. You haven't lived till you've shot skeet with a 44" barreled flintlock!

Chris

William Goodwin · Posted: Sun 12 Mar, 2006 11:10 am Post subject:

Great pics Chris!

Chris showed me the tomahawk & sgian last week..up close and personal, these are some very
fine pieces indeed.

Cheers,

Bill

Alexander Hinman · Posted: Mon 13 Mar, 2006 6:09 pm Post subject:

Very, very cool knife. I wish I had that level of skill, or even something vaguely approximating it.

I must ask, though, how does the blade feel in hand? The pins that hold the blade look a bit uncomfortable, but that might just be the light and/or the angle of the photo. So, I don't mean the dynamic characteristics (though that would be cool to know anyway) but mainly the comfort level.

Chris Goerner · Posted: Wed 15 Mar, 2006 3:09 am Post subject:

Matthew D M · Posted: Thu 16 Mar, 2006 2:50 pm Post subject:

Is the knife for reenactment only, or is the metallurgy pretty solid?

Nice looking collection!

Wink

Jonathan Harton · Posted: Thu 16 Mar, 2006 3:58 pm Post subject:

I've gata say Chris that is one of the nicest colonial kits I have seen to date. I have done a little Rev War reenacting here and there with an assortment of a few things of my own and a lot of borrowed gear, but college bills kill such lovely hobbies rather quickly.

That fowler is BEAUTIFUL. I am a true lover of all flintlocks of this period and that is one of the best looking ones, at least to my eye, that I have ever seen. Simple, elegant and lethal no doubt. I hope to one day get a colonial kit as well as a Norman kit put together. We'll have to see how the years and paychecks treat me.

Lovely kit man,
Jonathan.

Chris Goerner · Posted: Thu 16 Mar, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject:

Chris Goerner · Posted: Thu 16 Mar, 2006 7:04 pm Post subject:

William Goodwin · Posted: Fri 17 Mar, 2006 8:34 am Post subject:

'ello Chris,

Have you considered submitting your Colonial kit to the Collections feature of the site?

Cheers,

Bill