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CIVIL WAR US NAVY SAILOR’S KNIFE AND SAILMAKER’S
KIT AND STENCILED BAG – A VERY NICE NAUTICAL SET:
This Civil War US Navy sailor’s knife and personal tool
bag is one of those groupings that due to the
environment in which it was used and difficult and often
short lives of the people who used them, simply did not
survive in significant numbers. This set has not only
survived intact, but in remarkably nice condition.
Likely due all of the credit for keeping these pieces
together through the years, the lightweight canvas bag,
measuring 9 ½” tall and 4 ½” in diameter, is hand sewn,
probably by the sailor who owned it. The bag is full
form with all seams intact, the drawstring is complete,
and there is a cord reinforcement to the seam around the
bottom of the bag. The front of the bag is stenciled “USN”,
suggesting that while the bag was certainly made aboard
ship, it was still the property of the US Navy rather
than a personal belonging of the sailor. While the
canvas is lightly stained, evidence of its use, the
material is in excellent condition with no tears or weak
points and only one small pin hole that appears to have
been caused by a hot cinder.
The folding pocket knife, marked on the ricasso of the
blade with the manufacturer’s name “Parkin & Marshall,
Sheffield”, is of the exact style shown in Glen Boa’s
definitive article, “The Illusive Civil War Government
Issue U.S. Navy Pocket Knife” published in the
September, 2006 issue of Gun Report magazine.
While this knife is not marked “USN” as many of the
examples shown in Boa’s article, this knife is the same
style and made by one of the many Sheffield, England
makers that supplied knives used by US Navy sailors.
The firm of Parkin & Marshall was listed in the 1852 and
1859 editions of the Directory of the Borough and
Parish of Sheffield listed as manufacturers of
steel, files and edge tools, located at 23 Furnival
Street. The knife is in very good condition, and while
showing some signs of wear, is a very credible example
of the knives carried by these early sailors. The blade
is full form and the blade profile was not reduced with
excessive sharpening. There is some pitting as can be
seen in the photos below, but considering the knife was
exposed to salt water, it is fairly minor. The blade
does have some play at the bolster, but it is still
firmly attached to the handle. The handle features bone
scales, carved to simulate antler which are full form
with no cracks or chips, and have a wonderful aged
color, and the handle is complete with the brass lanyard
loop.
The balance of the sail maker’s tools included in this
set are:
* A wooden needle bottle covered with woven cord which
is in turn coated with a varnish or tar. The bottle
measures 4 ½” long and 1” in diameter, is complete with
the hand carved wooden plug, and it contains one large
sewing needle.
* A leather stitching palm in very good condition with
all the seams and the trawhide covered thimble intact.
* A wooden handled sewing awl.
* A cloth roll-up packet of sewing needles. The cloth
case shows evidence of being made by the sailor with
hand stitching throughout and decorative stitching
around the edge. The roll up contains several original
needles.
* A large iron hook 7” long on piece of heavy cord,
likely used to pull a rope or cord through a sewn hem.
* A seam slicker with an iron blade mounted in a wooden
handle.
* A hand sewn cloth bag, measuring 5” long and 3 ¼”
wide containing a piece of white chalk.
This is a very unique set and may very well be a one of
kind artifact from the days when the majority of the US
Navy fleet was under sail. Considering that towards the
end of the Civil War the total manpower of the US Navy
was approximately 58,000 officers and enlisted men
(compared to 51,000 casualties at Gettysburg alone), the
low survival rate of sailor’s items from that period is
not surprising, and this sailor’s tool kit would be a
fine addition to any Civil war display.
SOLD
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