Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Madnumforce · 14th February 2018, 01:06 PM

I have two or three coupe-foins américains, I'll check in what side is the front handle. I don't think it's very significant though, as precisely the coupe-foin américain should be held with the rear handle in the right hand, while the coupe-foin du Centre, for the exact same function, should be held rear handle in the left hand, even in its standard pattern, always designed for right-handed people. Maybe the one you have was made for a left-handed user, but maybe not. It's hard to tell...

But the "Lightning" hay knife can be dated quite precisely, as it's an actual invention and not a traditional pattern, and was patented by George Weymouth of Dresden (somewhere in the USA I guess, not the real Dresden) in 1871. So there is no chance that any of these was ever used for combat.

But that socketed thing you have seems quite interesting. It could have been designed as a weapon, but could also have been a tool. I know of no similar tool in France, but there are sometimes very specialised tools we rarely come across. Anyway, it's always a good thing to grab unusual old tools, when they're cheap. So many probably ends up scrapped.

14th February 2018, 01:06 PM	#26
Madnumforce Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 28	I have two or three coupe-foins américains, I'll check in what side is the front handle. I don't think it's very significant though, as precisely the coupe-foin américain should be held with the rear handle in the right hand, while the coupe-foin du Centre, for the exact same function, should be held rear handle in the left hand, even in its standard pattern, always designed for right-handed people. Maybe the one you have was made for a left-handed user, but maybe not. It's hard to tell... But the "Lightning" hay knife can be dated quite precisely, as it's an actual invention and not a traditional pattern, and was patented by George Weymouth of Dresden (somewhere in the USA I guess, not the real Dresden) in 1871. So there is no chance that any of these was ever used for combat. But that socketed thing you have seems quite interesting. It could have been designed as a weapon, but could also have been a tool. I know of no similar tool in France, but there are sometimes very specialised tools we rarely come across. Anyway, it's always a good thing to grab unusual old tools, when they're cheap. So many probably ends up scrapped.