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Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > Every day medieval knife ? Reply to topic
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Harold R.





Joined: 02 Feb 2006

Posts: 76

PostPosted: Thu 13 Apr, 2006 7:40 pm    Post subject: Every day medieval knife ?         Reply with quote

I have been looking around for some examples of your everyday medieval utility type knife. The pictures I am finding suggest to me that I could make a fairly similar replica out of an Old Hickory butcher knife. Am I too far off the mark on this? Can anyone point me in the right direction to do a little more research on this?
Thanks.
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G. Scott H.




Location: Arizona, USA
Joined: 22 Feb 2005

Posts: 410

PostPosted: Thu 13 Apr, 2006 8:24 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

If you haven't already, check out this knife at A&A http://www.arms-n-armor.com/dagg160.html. According to the little blurb accompanying the photos, this would seem to be a good example of a standard "utility" knife from the period. Happy
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Greyson Brown




Location: Windsor, Colorado
Joined: 22 Nov 2004
Reading list: 15 books

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PostPosted: Fri 14 Apr, 2006 1:58 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I'd have to take a look at the Old Hickory butcher's knife you have in mind, but I can say that most wood handled 3 inch pairing knives look an awful lot like small utility knives that can be seen throughout history. They may not be quite perfect (especially when it come to the stainless steel blades some have), but they are pretty darn close.

-Grey

"So long as I can keep the path of honor I am well content."
-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The White Company
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Harold R.





Joined: 02 Feb 2006

Posts: 76

PostPosted: Fri 14 Apr, 2006 5:51 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

They are on this page: http://www.knivesplus.com/OLD-HICKORY-KNIVES.HTML

For the cost you get a high carbon steel blade that is sort of the same shape. With a little grinding and a new handle I think I could have something really close to the real thing for not much $$$.
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Greyson Brown




Location: Windsor, Colorado
Joined: 22 Nov 2004
Reading list: 15 books

Posts: 813

PostPosted: Fri 14 Apr, 2006 8:08 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Ah yes. My grandmother had the QN-7155 5" steak knife, the QN-716 6" skinner, and a couple others as well. They seemed to be pretty good quality blades, and, if you want to antique it, they develope a dark/nearly black patina with age. I think a number of those could be used for the basis of a nice looking historically inspired utility knife.

-Grey

"So long as I can keep the path of honor I am well content."
-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The White Company
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Al Muckart




Location: NZ
Joined: 27 Dec 2005

Posts: 309

PostPosted: Fri 14 Apr, 2006 2:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Every day medieval knife ?         Reply with quote

Harold R. wrote:
I have been looking around for some examples of your everyday medieval utility type knife. The pictures I am finding suggest to me that I could make a fairly similar replica out of an Old Hickory butcher knife. Am I too far off the mark on this? Can anyone point me in the right direction to do a little more research on this?
Thanks.


There's certainly enough steel in the blade of one of those knives to get a decent medieval knife shape out of, but the handles would need some work too. The handles in pictures of medieval knives I've seen have been quite a lot smaller than we are used to on modern knives.

Have a look at Knives and Scabbards published by the Boydell press. There are many many drawings of extant knives dug up from the Thames embankments to give you a good idea of the style and shape.

Cote and Cutler make some not bad knives at good prices (prices are in Australian dollars). I have one of their 14th century eating knives in stainless and it's not bad. http://www.coteandcutler.com/accessories/cutlery.html

Revival also sell some decent looking knives, but I've never handled any of their gear.
http://www.revival.us/index.asp?PageAction=VI...tegory=202

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Al.
http://wherearetheelves.net
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W. R. Reynolds




Location: Ramona, CA
Joined: 07 Dec 2004

Posts: 123

PostPosted: Fri 14 Apr, 2006 10:12 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Historic Enterprises has some knives that are patterned off of originals.
Bill

"No matter who wins the rat race.......they are still a rat."
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Al Muckart




Location: NZ
Joined: 27 Dec 2005

Posts: 309

PostPosted: Fri 14 Apr, 2006 11:40 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

W. R. Reynolds wrote:
Historic Enterprises has some knives that are patterned off of originals.


Thanks. I was desperately trying to remember that name when I posted, but I've lost my bookmarks and it just wasn't coming to me.

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Al.
http://wherearetheelves.net
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Jeroen Zuiderwijk
Industry Professional



Location: Netherlands
Joined: 11 Mar 2005

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PostPosted: Sun 16 Apr, 2006 12:17 pm    Post subject: Re: knives         Reply with quote

Mark Shier wrote:
And I have some samples with painted sheaths at the bottom of this page:
http://www.medievalwares.com/new.htm
mark

Wow, those are gorgeous! Surprised Do you have larger photos of them?
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Al Muckart




Location: NZ
Joined: 27 Dec 2005

Posts: 309

PostPosted: Sun 16 Apr, 2006 12:21 pm    Post subject: Re: knives         Reply with quote

Hi Mark,

Mark Shier wrote:
And I have some samples with painted sheaths at the bottom of this page:
http://www.medievalwares.com/new.htm
mark


Very nice. What are you using for a pigment binder?

--
Al.
http://wherearetheelves.net
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Mark Shier
Industry Professional




Joined: 27 Mar 2005

Posts: 83

PostPosted: Sun 16 Apr, 2006 1:27 pm    Post subject: pigments and painting         Reply with quote

I use size made from parchment scrapings.
I use Tinker and Red Troll Forge blades. Most of the handles are boxwood (as per the 14th century guild statutes). One of the pictured knives has siver fittings and mammoth ivory scales. The blades have wax on them so they don't scan very well.
They are all based on knives and sheaths either in museum or in my collection.

mark



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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin


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PostPosted: Sun 16 Apr, 2006 5:29 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Mark, I'm very impressed with the presentation given by those examples. They're quite nice.
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Jeroen Zuiderwijk
Industry Professional



Location: Netherlands
Joined: 11 Mar 2005

Spotlight topics: 2
Posts: 740

PostPosted: Tue 18 Apr, 2006 2:41 am    Post subject: Re: pigments and painting         Reply with quote

Mark Shier wrote:
I use size made from parchment scrapings.
I use Tinker and Red Troll Forge blades. Most of the handles are boxwood (as per the 14th century guild statutes). One of the pictured knives has siver fittings and mammoth ivory scales. The blades have wax on them so they don't scan very well.
They are all based on knives and sheaths either in museum or in my collection.

mark


They are definately some of the best reproction knives and sheets I've seen. Thanks for the photos! Happy
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