I got an original bauernwehr a while back as a gift. It has been a goal of mine to get a replica done of every original in my collection. I figured I would start with this one. I contacted Leo Todeschini (www.todsstuff.co.uk) as I have always been a big fan of his work. Communication was top notch, and the turn around time was very quick. I wanted as exacting as a recreation as possible so chose to send the original bauernwehr to Tod.
The original is quite an interesting piece. It is a stray find from the 15th century and was found in Yorkshire, England. The knife though is clearly of German origin. It is interesting to think of the various ways in which this knife could have come to England. The mundane (and probably most likely) reason is that it was simply imported. It is fun though to imagine some of the more unlikely, but plausible, scenarios.
The replication process was very fun; the knife has many unusual and unique features. The blade has a long single bevel (chisel ground) back edge. The handle has a step down from the blade and angles down a bit. The nagel is in place and remnants of the wood grip remain stuck to it... the knife had no bolster. The biggest assumption that had to be made on the replica was the addition of the pommel cap. In examining the original the end of the tang appears to have a nipple to it as though it was once peened over a pommel cap. In examining other original bauernwehrs from the period Tod and I found several dozen with pommel caps. Perhaps not a common feature, but I believe this original had one. The wood used on the replica is box.
The scabbard, by-knife, and pricker are simply additions that the original may have had accompanying it at one point.
I am very pleased with the whole set.
Cheers,
Hadrian
Attachment: 132.86 KB[ Download ]
Attachment: 112.3 KB[ Download ]
Attachment: 80.28 KB[ Download ]
