Talk:Arkansas toothpick

Merge with Bowie knife?
I think this article should be merged because an Arkansas Toothpick was an early name for a bowie knife. The first was believed to have been made in Arkansas and the natives of the state were thought to be so tough that they picked their teeth with knives of that size. After the movie, the "Iron Mistress", it began to mean a large dagger with a needle point blade, very unrealistic. Some modern Arkansas makers apply the name to more sensible sized knives. --Saucycountrygirl (talk) 20:48, 15 September 2008 (UTC)

This article seems pretty sparse, and very little info as to how this weapon differs from a Bowie knife. How about making a "Arkansas toothpick" subsection in the Bowie article, and just putting a little bit of info in about the distinction? MatthewVanitas (talk) 12:37, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I've written and read a lot of Arkansas history and I've never heard Arkansas called the "Toothpick State" or the "Bowie State." I've heard it called "The Wonder State," "The Bear State," "The Land of Opportunity," and "The Natural State." No Toothpick State and no Bowie State.

Russell T. Johnson

I can't see why the two would be merged - they're different styles of knife; one is a dagger, while the other is a single-edged knife which sometimes had a false edge. Perhaps we just need to find more info for this article? Random name (talk) 16:51, 16 May 2008 (UTC)

Well the Arkansas Toothpick is a large dagger, similar to many other styles. However the bowie has a rather unique shape and history. This article should be left up since it is a specific type of dagger. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.143.160.87 (talk) 09:09, 19 July 2008 (UTC) No merge. Its different. THough, it is better to check references, and possibly add more —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dcollins52 (talk • contribs) 20:06, 15 December 2008 (UTC)

Unusual change
A while ago, I read this article, and I remember it saying that this weapon was not for throwing, now it says it is. 208.40.180.2

(talk) 14:27, 20 May 2008 (UTC) Most of what is on this page is factually incorrect. James Black is not known to have had any connection to a specific type of knife termed an Arkansas Toothpick. My reading does, in fact, indicate that there is no such specific design. In the 19th century, the term was just a humorous description for a large knife. The article in question appears to draw all its information from fiction. 208.40.180.2 (talk) 14:27, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

Merge the Articles
My research indicates that the term Arkansas Toothpick probably arose in the civil war time frame to refer to the large knives, also known as Bowie Knives that were carried by Arkansas Soldiers. I do not think that "Toothpick" is a distinct and separate design from the Bowie Knife.Aleutian06 21:42, 24 November 2010 (UTC)

up to 20" blade? really?
If I am reading this correctly, these implements typically have a blade 30 to 50 centimeters in length. That isn't a "knife" any more. It's a sword. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.41.40.21 (talk) 13:01, 29 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Pretty much. They used it as a dueling weapon back in the day.  Twenty inches would have been an unusually long one.--Mike - Μολὼν λαβέ 16:51, 29 March 2011 (UTC)