Arkansas Toothpick

Arkansas Toothpick: The Infamous Dagger of the American Frontier

A Historical Overview

The Arkansas Toothpick, a legendary knife of the American frontier, was synonymous with danger and intrigue. In modern terminology, it was a heavy dagger with a 12-to-20-inch (30 to 51 cm) pointed straight blade.

Newspaper Accounts

Contemporary newspaper accounts shed light on the Arkansas Toothpick's reputation. An 1837 incident in Arkansas reported that a man named "Bill Polk" was "stabbed in the breast with an Arkansas toothpick." Another account from 1845 describes a "drunken brawl" in which a "young man was killed with an Arkansas Toothpick."

Conclusion

The Arkansas Toothpick's menacing presence looms large in the annals of American history. It was a deadly weapon, often wielded in violent confrontations. Its reputation as a formidable tool of self-defense and a symbol of frontier justice remains deeply embedded in the American psyche.

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