French Knives in North America

This new knife style seems to towards an upturned point “exotic” shapes of the long knives ART & have been the perfect product for (frequently called a “sabre point” or or short sabres used by the Siamese ARTISANS the North American wilderness, “lazy S” by earlier archaeologists), people: “The Siamese knives, that ∏ being both inexpensive and sharp- or a rounded tip with a slightly aren't looked upon as a weapon, pointed. Consequently, they convex cutting edge. They were although they can be used as one if frequently far outnumber sheath not, however, “…Knives, double needed, have a blade measuring 1 knives in several Great Lakes Native bladed…” as claimed by one pied in length and a width of three archaeological sites.2 Furthermore, English-speaking historian, because or four fingers.”8 Additionally, this French Knives in North sharp pointed siamois blades are, he unfortunately projected his term may have been popularized from an archaeological perspective, modern bias that the siamois knives even further after the “other- representative of the “Early to were synonymous with the famous worldly” visit by the Ambassadors America: Part II Middle Historic period.” 3 This “Siamese Twins” Chang and Eng. of Siam, who visited the French date range fits neatly with French (1811-74) ….a hundred years too King Louis XIV in 1686, who Colonial records which describe this late!6 While the vast majority of were depicted in an engraving with exact style of knife. A particular these blades are of the one-pin type, sabre-like weapons worn in their siamois and “two-pin” knives entry made in a Montreal merchant having a lentil on the back of the sashes.9 Gifts provided by these ledger book dated to 1744 provides blade, there are a few archaeological ambassadors apparently had such a ample evidence in showing that examples that are of the two-pin profound impact on the King that by Kevin Gladysz and Ken Hamilton k Contributors these knives were, in fact, of the type which will be discussed later in even certain types of cloth took An avid historical re-enactor and author of "The French Trade Gun in North America," Kevin Gladysz lives in Ontario, Canada, folding type since they were this article. on the name of “Siamese cloth” in where he teaches and is actively continuing his extensive archival research into the history of French-era colonial trade goods. He listed as: “2 dozen folding siamois France soon thereafter.10 has worked at the Vaudreuil-Soulanges Regional Museum, done firearms consultation work for La Citadelle of Québec and the 4 Rifle Shoppe, while also contributing to “La Belle small-arms” written by noted historical archaeologist Jay C. Blaine. [knives].” More importantly, this Although we cannot determine the new style of folding knife would exact origin of the term “couteau Since 1983 Ken Hamilton has been a bona fide museum junkie and independent seventeenth and eighteenth-century researcher and craftsman focusing on French and Natives in the northeast. He lives in central Maine with his lovely Penobscot fiancée come to supersede the earlier à la siamois” (Siamese knife) as far as Nicole, and two boys, Samuel and Nathan. The third, Neil is 24. All enjoy living history. dauphine and Flatin folding knives the history of French cutlery is discussed in part one, published in concerned, we have discovered that Volume I, Issue IV, Journal of the these were available in France as Early Americas. early as the second quarter of the t the very close of the seventeenth century, a seventeenth century. For example, new type of jambette folding knife appeared Fortunately for us today, descriptive one of the earliest mentions of in French colonial records. These knives records found in a number of siamois knives in France can be were originally termed couteau à la siamoise (knife in colonial merchant outfitters’ ledger dated to 1647, the year Blaise A books and notarized accounts Pleuronceau of Saint-Savin sur the Siamese manner or style) and later frequently documented simply as couteau siamois or couteau sciamois inform us that the blades on the Gartempe, France (a town located (Siamese knife) by French colonial merchants and siamois knives displayed either a near the city of Châtellerault) had at seaboard wholesalers. By the 1720’s, according to “pointed” or “round” tip.5 These his home a variety of knives which archival records, this new jambette had become the most descriptions, therefore, correspond included "Ones with boxwood widespread type of knife exported from France for its with only one type of folding knife handles said à la Siamoise (in the 7 French colonies of North America and its commercial blade profile identified from an Siamese fashion)...". (b) dealings in the fur trade. Indeed, the Siamese folding assemblage of blades excavated at knife was so popular, that even five years after the numerous mid-century French and Since France and Siam had relations surrender of Canada, English fur trade merchants Image k Probable French folding knife of Native-associated archaeological that date back to the sixteenth the one-pin construction mounted with a sites. These presumed à la siamoise century, we may believe that these not only still imported French folding knives for their siamois-type unmarked blade with its original Native customers, including three sizes of horn handled beveled beechwood handle and brass rosettes blades exhibit either a long, types of knives may have indirectly “Folding Siamois knives,” but started making English at the pin area. Overall length: 24 cm. sloping back edge (both curved adopted this name through popular copies of them, possibly as early as 1765.1 (Private collection, Canada) . and straight), moving downward culture, due their resemblance to the Images k Siamese embassy to Louis XIV led by Kosa Pan in 1686, by Nicolas Larmessin. (b): Detail showing the exotic looking sabres worn by the Siamese delegates. Take note of the shape of the sheath indicating blades which likely had upturned pointed tips. 8 JOURNAL of the EARLY AMERICAS VOLUME i ISSUE v k OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011 9 Common Siamois Knives The common siamois folding knives an archaeological standpoint, the name of a famous family of or siamois ordinaires18 sent to North excavations from French and cutlers working out of the town Images (Above & Left) k Above: Excavated French folding knife America appear to have been Native-associated sites reveal that of Saint-Étienne. For example, blades from Michilimackinac showing the pointed tip-type siamois blade profiles. (Mackinac State Historical Parks Collection). hafted with unadorned or plain the pointed-tip version were much a general inventory list of goods Left: French folding knife blade excavated at Michilimackinac which handles and were recorded as being more common than the round-tip and merchandise belonging to the shows the rounded tip type Siamois blade profile.(Mackinac State mounted with either pointed or ones. colonial merchants Désauniers Historical Parks Collection). rounded tip blades. For example, a and Brouague included "4 gross Montreal merchant's invoice dating The materials used for handles of large siamois knives, pointed, Regarding the source of production Other than these commercial pointed blades, with two pins...”.15 to 1743 clearly lists siamois knives on siamois knives shipped to New Bizaillon..."28 whereas in 1758, for the siamois knives in France records, references to the term A few decades earlier, Pierre with both “rounded” and “pointed” France were recorded as horn or the merchant-outfitter Monière destined for its colonies, evidence siamois is seldom found in period Reynaud, a merchant-cutler from blade tips, providing solid evidence wood, and occasionally, ivory.24 For recorded two dozen “siamois from historical documents as well cutlers’ inventory lists or product the town of Thiers in business with that these knives came in two example, certain knives or bundles Bizaillon.” 29 Gérin-Lajoie stated as markings found on excavated catalogues at Saint-Étienne cutlers at Saint-Etienne, included varieties.19 Although one curious of knives were specified as having that “...during the 1740s and 1750s, blades from North American itself. This probably means that a variety of couteaux à la siamoise 1746-47 Michilimackinac account boxwood or “yellow boxwood,”25 the Bizaillon knife seemed to be archaeological sites point to the cutlers were likely using other in an inventory list dated 1738. book described “8 siamois knives plain black wooden handles,26 the most popular around Montreal. town of Saint-Étienne as their main denominations or appellations for The small, medium, and large sizes to smoke the skins…,” 20 we really (likely the color beechwood or Many people who were not involved manufacturing center. For example, the knives. For instance, in 1763 were listed as having horn handles, have no other specific information boxwood took on after being treated in the fur trade purchased them as an invoice written in the town Fougeroux de Bondaroy likely whereas another lot of mid- concerning the intended use of in hot iron handle molds presses), or well as voyageurs." 30 Interestingly of Lyon in 1714, through which referenced siamois knives when sized ones presumably had wood either style. Even though a round plain wooden ones.27 enough, these may have also many Saint-Étienne products were he enumerated a wide range of handles.16 point would certainly be a useful, been offered in a very small size, purchased for the colonies, noted pointed-tip knives available from non-offensive, eating utensil for the It is also interesting to note that considering that Monière noted that Monsieur de Ramezay, then the Saint-Étienne-based cutler In New France, however, historical French, they are nevertheless found certain pointed-tip siamois knives "3 dozen Bizaillons knives for acting Governor of New France named Laforge.

Load more