KNIFE

An incomplete post medieval iron knife, dating circa AD1520. The knife is formed of an iron scale tang blade with a wooden handle decorated with copper alloy studs and trefoil mounts and a copper alloy knife end cap. The blade is broken and the tip is missing. The iron of the blade is corroded but there is a faint impression of a cross where the maker's mark is usually situated. The scales, forming the handle, are made of wood. There are three copper alloy rivets securing the handle and two decorative trefoil mounts, perhaps representing a clover. The two trefoil mounts are alternate with the rivets. The bolster separating the handle from the blade is also of copper alloy and is formed of two pieces that are riveted to the blade. The bolster curves from the handle to the blade and extends at the blade end to cover the width of the lower blade, with an engraved line marking this point. The knife has a saddle form end cap. The end cap has two round projections on the end that have curved recesses on the top. These projections give the impression of ears but there are no facial features on the rest of the pommel. The body of the pommel is decorated with a triangle on each side, containing wriggle-work (rocker arm) on the lower internal edge of the triangle and to either side of the apex.

The object is in very good condition other than the losses to the blade. The blade now has a dark grey patination with patches of much lighter grey underneath. The copper alloy elements are all golden coloured with flecks of dark brown across the surfaces of some parts. The bone is a dark brown colour.

No parallels can be found for the pommel but an identical handle can be found in Brown (2001, 71, Fig. 22d). The published example dates c. 1500, so this example is likely to be of a similar date. Ian Smith suggests the knife is Flemish in origin.

Dimensions: length: 154.65 mm; width: 16.70 mm; blade thickness: 2.86 mm; weight: 31.29g.

Reference: Brown, P. 2001. British Cutlery: An illustrated history of design, evolution and use.London: Philip Wilson Publishers.