Arkansas Toothpick

The Arkansas toothpick is a heavy dagger with a straight, pointed blade between 12 and 20 inches long, capable of both thrusting and slashing. It is credited to blacksmith James Black, also known for improving the Bowie knife, and it emerged during the American frontier era, becoming particularly notable by the mid nineteenth century, when there was no consistent distinction drawn between Bowie knives and Arkansas toothpicks. Several states, including Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia, passed laws in the late 1830s naming the Arkansas toothpick specifically in efforts to curb dueling.