San Saba Knife Reference Page
The following examples have been provided for this type survey. Additional examples are welcome.
Thanks to my fellow Texas collectors who have supplied photos and providence information. We hope to find out as much as we can about this uniquely Texas, rare, transitional archaic point type. We are also interested in first hand reports of associated point types. So far the indications are that it has been found most often in association with Ensor dart points, but has also been reported in association with Scallorn arrow points. If proven, this could lead to important Anthropological evidence that the Ensor people were the forefathers of the first Scallorn culture, and that the San Saba knife bridged the transition from the use of the atlatl to the use of the bow. Much more study appears to be well worthwhile.
Dr. Thomas Hester has already agreed to do further study of the San Saba knife and plans to publish information validating it as a distinct type of Texas artifact. As noted in Perino's SELECTED PREFORMS POINTS AND KNIVES, the type was first described the type in 1972 by Dr. Hester who, along with L.M.Green, obtained examples from San Saba county for a functional study. This study indicated utilitarian use as knives, as do many of the examples below.
Bill Arnold - Chocolate 4 1/8" San Saba - Coryell County - Central,Texas
Reported as dug near Mound, Texas.
CLICK to see COA
Bill Arnold - 4 1/8" x 1 15/16" - Edwards Chert - reported as Coryell County
COA Gregory Perino Papers. - His measurements are 104mm. x 48mm.
Non-typical, this blade shows a lot of Ensor traits.
CLICK to see COA
Bill Arnold - 3 3/8" - from Williamson County <= NEW
COA Dwain Rogers Papers.
This blade is a classic of the type.
Bill Arnold - 2 5/8" San Saba "Drill" - Coryell County - Central,Texas
Maybe not a beauty but this is a great study piece,
re-used and re-sharpened to the final stage you see here!
L.T. Crow - This one came out of Kerr Co. TX. - 5"+
This picture just doesn't do justice to this big killer.
Dr. Guy Gross - 4 5/8 San Saba found in Bell Co. - Central,Texas
ex - Dwain Rogers collection
Dr. Guy Gross - First stage 4 5/8 San Saba found on Cowhouse Creek, Coryell Co.
Perino papers note as "never used, never resharpened".
Dr. Guy Gross - 4 13/16 San Saba found in Coryell Co.
This is a big long classic example.
Yet another classic example from Dr. Guy Gross - 3 1/8" from Coryell Co.
ex- L.M. Abbott collection
A very interesting example from the Dr. Guy Gross collection <= NEW
2 5/16" San Saba drill. Found in Brown Co, made on a flake
Ex- John Thomason and Pat Dunnegan - Has a Rogers COA.
Jesse Moon collection - Tom Davis COA issued 8/9/99 - Beautifully aged translucent flint
ex- Guy Gross aka Dr. San Saba
The Jesse Moon collection - found in Travis Co, Texas.
A good, well used example
Jesse Moon collection - papered by Dwain Rogers to Bill Sheka on 12/15/00
COA says Area Found-Central Tx.
ex- Eddy Lorant, ex- Bill Sheka
Jesse Moon Collection - excavated in Burnet County - found broken, glued at 4 1/4" mark
ex- Shannon Graham, ex- Bill Arnold (finder)
From Pat Dunnegan - Over 5" - found in Bell County
Beautiful ancient workmanship
An interesting example from Wade Hall <= NEW
4-3/8" long drill form, found in Coryell Co, Texas.
TWO matching examples from Wade Hall's collection - 8-1/4" & 7-3/4" respectively! <= NEW
Made of the same Bullseye material, reported from the Toledo bend area
Perino COA's state both are knife forms.
A giant example from V.V. Turner <= NEW
8-3/4" lg! Found in Milam Co, needs the "pick nick" restored.
Looks like a "Ceremonial Quality" San Saba to me?
From my collection - 5-3/4" Kerr County, found near Ingram, Texas
Rogers COA, he notes "from the Ensor/Marcos time period"
ex- Roy Bales, ex- Matt Brooks, ex- Bill Arnold
My collection - from Burnet county, near Oakalla, Texas
Notice the spokeshave notched into the side, probably after the blade broke
ex- Bill Arnold (finder)
The following examples are included because of possible relationship to San Saba.
Possibly a totally worn out example?
ex- Bill Arnold
My collection - from Coryell county, Texas
Not a San Saba - broken stem re-worked archaic point (possibly Castroville)
Dwain Rogers verbal, stated "made too well for a San Saba"
... but, could re-use of broken stem blades have been how the San Saba knife was invented?
Booner Beck - from Lampasas county, Texas
Big Ensor with very obvious San Saba traits
Booner Beck also provided this photo of excellent examples. <= NEW
They're ex- Mark Adams San Saba Blades
You may also want to have a look at these nine SAN SABA KNIVES reported in this CSASI article by Leslie Pfeiffer San Antonio, Texas
And what about these two "ENSOR BLADES" in this CSASI article? <= NEW
I hope to add more San Saba knife examples in the near future. If you have one or more additional examples that should be included please email a photo and related info!
Thanks to all who have contributed - David
Updated 2/20/03 - I am dedicating this page to the memory of the late Jesse Moon of Cross Plains, Texas.
Jesse provided four of the examples shown above from his collection, along with some much appreciated encouragement.
He was very interested in learning as much as we can about our past, and he treated everyone as his friend.
Life's too short, my friend.
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