Revolutionary War Fascine Knife, Frank Kravic collection

This is another great piece being offered, it is a Revolutionary War Fascine Knife, circa 1765 – 1785. The outside of the rounded blade measures approximately 18”, the overall size is 8 ½” x 13 ½”. One of the common cutting tools of colonial soldiers was the fascine knife (also known as brush hook or brush cutter). It was a side arm/tool issued to both American and British light infantry, engineers, and artillery (including German troops). It served both as a personal weapon and as a tool to cut fascines and clear brush when needed.

Fascines are bundles of branches and sticks used to reinforce defensive embankments, trenches, and earth ramparts protecting artillery batteries. They were carried by detached infantry before attacking troops. These bundles filled pits and ditches dug before forts and redoubts allowing the assaulting troops to cross. Quite a few of these knives have been excavated from Revolutionary War sites indicating their popular usage.

In the "Morristown Revolutionary War Museum" there is a near identical example of this knife (see pictures). This knife is in very solid condition. It is from the famous Revolutionary War collection of Frank Kravic, author of “Collectors Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution” (see pictures). It is a very rare piece and would make a nice addition to any Revolutionary War collection.