Can anyone date this knife blade?

[jajbellsouthnet]

While looking for something else with my metal detector, I dug up a knife blade. The blade is 8-1/4" long. The shaft which holds the handle (long gone) is 4-1/2" long with a nut on the end. The blade is marked "Arkansas Toothpick" on the side of the blade and "88R" close to the handle shaft end. On the handle shaft, it is marked "8" and there is a figure that looks like a small Christmas tree with arms. I have previously found several early 1900's coins in the same area so there is a good possibility that it is from that era. Thanks in advance for any light you may shed on this piece.
Thanks,
John

[annabella1]

The "Arkansas Toothpick" is a large straight double edged knife that was developed by the same man who developed the "Bowie" knife (I can't remember his name right now). It was a favorite of Sailors in the late 1800's or early 1900's. It was usually worn in a scabbard across the back. Whether or not yours is one, I don't know, but a lot of copies were also made later. (I was just going to make a smart comment about only dating humans when I saw this subject but when I read the rest I realized it was something I knew a little about)

[ryanmercer]

The "Arkansas Toothpick" is a large straight double edged knife that was developed by the same man who developed the "Bowie" knife (I can't remember his name right now). It was a favorite of Sailors in the late 1800's or early 1900's. It was usually worn in a scabbard across the back. Whether or not yours is one, I don't know, but a lot of copies were also made later. (I was just going to make a smart comment about only dating humans when I saw this subject but when I read the rest I realized it was something I knew a little about)

James Black