In 1748 George Washington was on his first adventure over the
Blue Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley.
Lord Fairfax had taken a liking to the 16 year old and thought to
introduce him to the wilds and the art of surveying. In George’s Journal of My Journey Over the
Mountains began Fryday the 11th of March 1747/8 Washington comments on
their dinner with Solomon Hedges, Justice of the Peace “When we came to supper
there was neither a Cloth upon the table nor a Knife to eat with but as good
luck would have it we had our own.”
Later in an entry he notes “Everyone was his own cook. Our Spits was
Forked Sticks our plates was a Large Chip as for dishes we had none.” A good knife was a necessity to travel over
the Blue Ridge and beyond.
Charlie Wallingford had donated this fine and useful belt knife
to the auction. The 6 inch hand forged blade is mounted through a poured pewter
ferrule with two pins in an antler handle.
The butt has a silver cap and a bit of border engraving. Charlie includes a fine businesslike belt
sheath of polished cow hide. George Washington would have been
happy with this knife.
Text by Heinz Ahlers with Photo 1 by Ric Lambert and photos 2, 3, and 4 by Heinz Ahlers
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