[Joachim Nilsson]

This here is my latest piece I recently bought at an online auction: A Faskinknife m/1848.

The m/1848 came about when the Swedish military sought a cutlass of a more practical shape in the 19th Century. The result was the messerlike Faskinknife; an implement which -much like the messer- seemed to have doubled as a weapon and a tool for the artillery crews and engineers of the time. At least as far as I know.

It has a stout blade with a quite broad, blunt false/short edge -except for the last couple of inches (which on my specimen) seem to have been, at least somewhat sharpened. The grip is made of black-painted wood which are riveted directly to the tang and also feature a hole which one was supposed to fasten a wrist-string. The thick, S-shaped cross is made of brass.

The weapon is in overall good condition. The grip has a small crack close to the cross, and one of the arms of the cross is slightly bent sideways. The blade is less patinated than I thought it would be and features a few nicks in the edge and scratches on the flat of the blade. But that only adds charachter to the piece.

Performance wise I have not yet fully tested it. I've just recently opened the package, but still managed to pull of a few light cuts in my cramped aparment. Once it's gripped, this well balanced piece, gives me the almost irresistable urge to cut something. Which, in time, I intend to do. Just need to give the edge a once over though. The weapon feels quick, agile and lively and reminds me of a -surprise, surprise- small messer.

Total length: 23 2/10 " (59 cm)
Blade length: 17 5/10" (44cm)
Blade width at base: 2 1/10" (5.2 cm)
Blade width at widest point: 2" (5cm)
Weight: (according to my kitchen scale) roughly 1.7 lbs (810gr)

[Martin Wallgren]

OHHH!!! Nasty little bugger that one!!!

And of course as one can see it is a original one.

Martin

[Joachim Nilsson]

Nasty indeed. Just wait until you get to handle it.

[Martin Wallgren]

Det kan bli en blodig affär! (That could be a bloody affaire!)

"klapping hands togheter with a grin on that would fit the most evely delighted kid on x-mas!"

[Joachim Nilsson]

[Jean Thibodeau]

Joachim;

Very interesting blade, almost looks like a strait bladed kukri ! Is the curve of the blade the original design or is it due to many many sharpenings ? In other words when new was there the same amount of recurve, some recurve but less of it or no recurve at all.

in any case looks good as it is now.

[Joachim Nilsson]

[Joachim Nilsson]

Quick update here: The faskinknife was designed for the engineering troops so that they would have an implement to cut weeds, bushes etc with. A whole lot of academic and semiacademic (read: amateur) sources claim that this was the only use for the weapon. I disagree. I have used the tool for floryshing messer techniques -guard transitions as well as cuts and (to a lesser extent) thrusts. And in that regard it works marveously. That little detail almost makes into a messer proper: a multipurpose tool intended for fighting as well as more menial tasks.

[Derek Wassom]

Very cool, Joachim

[Joachim Nilsson]

[Sean Flynt]

I love it--the last gasp of the military hanger! It reminds me of the modern British MOD knife. In fact, the MOD knife could be its little brother (although I'd bet they weigh about the same because the MOD is .25" almost its whole length and is a real beast). Both are primarily utility knives rather than weapons, but one doesn't normally need such robust cross gaurds when fighting shrubbery. If an entrenching tool (GI shovel) makes a good weapon, I think it's safe to say that both of these knives would be just fine in weapon-mode.

[Joachim Nilsson]

Whoa Sean, that looks like a real beast!

[Kjell Magnusson]

Concerning the width of the blade of the m/1848, Olof P. Berg lists it as being 5,2cm in his book Svenska Blankvapen Vol. 2.

As for the shape of the blade, there are a few different Swedish military swords from the 19th century with a similar (if longer and thinner) shapes to their blades. These sword-sized blades are to have been designed by J.A. Hafström, a Swedish artillery lieutenant, and can be found on both army sabers and naval cutlasses. A quick scan through Berg's books doesn't reveal anything regarding whether or not Hafström was involved in the construction of the faskniv that I can see though.

Examples of Hafström-blades can be found on sabers m/1842 and m/1847 for the cavalry, boarding cutlass m/185, and cutlasses m/1838, m/1843, and so on (additional designations left out because I'd probably mangle the translations beyondf all recognition).

Can't seem to find any good pics of them though, but here's one of m/1851 which should give a general idea of the blade shape at least (not to say that the different Hafström-blades were identical, but they were all of the same "half-leafblade").

[Joachim Nilsson]

The 6cms measurement is taken from the book Blanka vapen och skyddsvapen by Josef Alm.

That picture of that naval cutlass you posted is really nice. I've been looking for that particular weapon for quite some time now. I just recently missed out on one over at Tradera.

[Patrik Erik Lars Lindblom]

with scabbard


more pics here

[Wolfgang Armbruster]

That thing really looks like a little kopis / falcata minus the recurved blade. Must be a very good cutter.

[Peter Johnsson]

The cross section of the "Faskinkniv" is interesting: it has its thickest part just at the ridge of the edge bevel. Tha back of the blade is thinner.
This makes the cross section a bit like an assymmetrical diamond section.
Must be god when cutting saplings and wood. Helps against pinching I guess.
Semingly simple, this blade still has some neat aspects.

Congrats, Joachim!

[Joachim Nilsson]