Were knives more expensive than firearms in the Old West?

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.

***

Marshall Trimble is Arizona’s official historian. His latest book is Wyatt Earp: Showdown at Tombstone.  If you have a question, write:  Ask the Marshall, P.O. Box 8008, Cave Creek, AZ 85327 or e-mail him at  marshall.trimble@scottsdalecc.edu