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Harry Marinakis




PostPosted: Sun 06 Nov, 2016 1:36 pm    Post subject: Mosaic medieval knife handles?         Reply with quote

Does anyone know whether or not there is any evidence for mosaic wood knife handles during the medieval period?

By mosaic, I mean checkerboard-like patterns of light and dark wood squares glued together, then shaped to a handle.

Thanks.
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Fri 11 Nov, 2016 6:55 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I've never , personally, seen or heard of one. Not to say there were none, though. Sounds to me like the design would be kinda flimsy. One good drop on a hard floor and it might go to pieces. I'll bet you might have given Leo T. an idea, though. Big Grin Betcha it would be purty! Big Grin ........McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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Jeffrey Faulk




Location: Georgia
Joined: 01 Jan 2011

Posts: 578

PostPosted: Sat 12 Nov, 2016 11:22 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

As far as I know, what you describe is a very modern technique that originated with lathe turners. Turning a glued-up piece of wood is old hat to them, but it only started being used in an artistic fashion fairly recently with the advent of modern glues that could take the stress of lathe turning combined with woods of differing strengths. This would not have been a medieval technique at all.

Now, one possibility is *inlay*-- that is, a wood stock being inlaid with other woods or materials such as bone or metal. This is certainly possible, especially for prestige items, but I would not expect to see it in an utilitarian or fighting item.
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Mart Shearer




Location: Jackson, MS, USA
Joined: 18 Aug 2012

Posts: 1,302

PostPosted: Sat 12 Nov, 2016 1:21 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Parquetry is more a 17th and 18th century practice, isn't it?
ferrum ferro acuitur et homo exacuit faciem amici sui
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Harry Marinakis




PostPosted: Sun 13 Nov, 2016 6:16 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks all

I saw this knife elsewhere, and although it is not "period" I thought a similar handle would look good on a ballock dagger.

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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Likes: 6 pages
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 2,294

PostPosted: Sun 13 Nov, 2016 10:23 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Wow....that is bangin' cool! And yes, a ballock was the first thing that popped into my mind!.........McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
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