Were knives more expensive than firearms in the Old West?
Mike Scott
Saugus, Massachusetts
They could be more expensive. Folks on the frontier could pay anywhere from 20 cents to $120 for a knife—the more expensive ones were usually ornamental and featured a fancy or exotic handle. For most folks, a knife was a tool; a good two-blade or three-blade pocket knife could be ordered for $1.50 to $2.50. By contrast, a Colt Peacemaker pistol would cost you a $20 gold piece.
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Marshall
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