Revolutionary War Soldier’s Pocketknife, dug at Fort Plain, NY

This is another early piece coming out of a 60-year collection of French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812 artifacts. Being offered is the remains of a Revolutionary War soldier’s pocketknife, measuring 5” x ¾”. Most of the blade has rusted away, being in the ground for over 200 years.

This knife was recovered at Fort Plain, New York. It was found in the area of where Colonel Marinus Willett’s Battalion was located (see pic of Willett). His force was made up of half New York and half Massachusetts troops. The fort was on a hilltop that overlooks the Mohawk River and Otsquago Creek. The site was strategically chosen for its defensibility and valley location.

Fort Plain was built by Colonel Dayton of the American Army of the North (headquarters at Albany) in 1776 on present Fort Hill. It held the American Revolutionary Army Valley Headquarters from 1780 until the close of hostilities in the fall of 1783. Four adjacent small forts formed outposts for the main defense.

The knife is in dug condition, so it has overall rust, however it has been coated for preservation and is now solid.  This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions, diggers, closed museums, and lake divers. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with its provenance.

This is the typical pocketknife carried by most Revolutionary War soldiers on both sides. There are examples in “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution”, by Neumann and Kravic (see pictures). Also, there are examples of dug and non-dug pocket knives in most Revolutionary War museums. As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.