Overview
This Trade Dagger from J.P. Miller features a double edged blade with .163" blade stock and 2.326" blade, hidden/mortise tang construction. The handle has a a curly maple grip with mosaic pins and brass pins. Comes with a brown leather sheath with raw hide wrap. Excellent condition.
This knife, made by James P. Miller of Fairbank, Iowa, is an exact copy of a Pre-1826, Northwest Company, Bayonet/dagger originally made in England and sold through the Northwest Company fur trade posts prior to their merger with the Hundson's Bay Company. The original relic knife this copy was made from was found near the banks of the Missouri river across from Fort Union, a major fur trade post of the American Fur Company, located on the upper MissourRiver in what is now extreme Western North Dakota. This original relic knife now resides in a private collection. Mr. Miller was commissioned to make a copy of the knife by the owner of the original and made this copy as well. The knife is hand forged of high carbon steel by Mr. Miller and has a curly maple handle of the type common to this style of knife.
Mr. Miller is a fur trade period reenactor and whie attending the Fort Union National Historic Site Rendezvous of 2008, he met and spoke with the owner of the original relic knife who then commissioned the copy to be made by Mr. Miller.