Whats in a Name: The Arkansas Toothpick

Jim McDougall · 5th June 2021, 05:12 PM

Thank you for the clarification, actually I was not aware of this fight in 1826, and the Wikipedia entry is quite correct. In reading more on this in Norm's book, this was apparently quite a scuffle, and Jim had only a clasp folding knife (probably a navaja) which he could not get open in the fray. He was indeed wounded but not badly, and kept fighting...it was the difficulty in getting the knife opened that was the problem.

Rezin then gave him his own knife (as previously described a hunting knife that looked like a butcher knife), which he said he had made (other accounts say it was made FOR him). This knife of Rezin's was apparently the one carried a year later at Vidalia.
He had no issue in using pistols, and at Vidalia discharged the two he was armed with, as well as another which had been dropped in the confusion of the fight by one of the other men.

It is my turn to clarify re: size and circumstance.
What I meant is that when faced with an armed and formidable opponent, and in the heat of the moment, the dimensions and character of the weapon can be expectably exaggerated visually........for example, looking down the barrel of a gun pointed at you (which unfortunately I know from first hand experience) ....no matter what it is, it 'looks like a howitzer'!!!

Much as use of the term 'toothpick' in the sense being discussed for these 'large' knives, however minimalizing it in bravado.

fernando · 5th June 2021, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... (which unfortunately I know from first hand experience) ...

Who hasn't gone through one of those ... but no details available

.

Jim McDougall · 5th June 2021, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Who hasn't gone through one of those ... but no details available

.

I rest my case

Jim McDougall · 13th June 2021, 01:43 AM

Here is an example of the similar type knife(example B) Jim Bowie used at the Sandbar fight, which was actually a blacksmiths rasp ( for shoeing horses) filed into a blade. It was given to him by his brother Rezin after the fight he was in and had difficulty opening the folding blade.

The other picture is the Bowie belonging the the famed Sioux leader Sitting Bull.

13th June 2021, 01:43 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Here is an example of the similar type knife(example B) Jim Bowie used at the Sandbar fight, which was actually a blacksmiths rasp ( for shoeing horses) filed into a blade. It was given to him by his brother Rezin after the fight he was in and had difficulty opening the folding blade. The other picture is the Bowie belonging the the famed Sioux leader Sitting Bull. Attached Images

5th June 2021, 05:12 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Thank you for the clarification, actually I was not aware of this fight in 1826, and the Wikipedia entry is quite correct. In reading more on this in Norm's book, this was apparently quite a scuffle, and Jim had only a clasp folding knife (probably a navaja) which he could not get open in the fray. He was indeed wounded but not badly, and kept fighting...it was the difficulty in getting the knife opened that was the problem. Rezin then gave him his own knife (as previously described a hunting knife that looked like a butcher knife), which he said he had made (other accounts say it was made FOR him). This knife of Rezin's was apparently the one carried a year later at Vidalia. He had no issue in using pistols, and at Vidalia discharged the two he was armed with, as well as another which had been dropped in the confusion of the fight by one of the other men. It is my turn to clarify re: size and circumstance. What I meant is that when faced with an armed and formidable opponent, and in the heat of the moment, the dimensions and character of the weapon can be expectably exaggerated visually........for example, looking down the barrel of a gun pointed at you (which unfortunately I know from first hand experience) ....no matter what it is, it 'looks like a howitzer'!!! Much as use of the term 'toothpick' in the sense being discussed for these 'large' knives, however minimalizing it in bravado.