A little blade

fernando · 13th May 2015, 05:45 PM

Why do i always assume that, if a blade has a ridge (even if the other face is flat) has to be that of a weapon and not of a domestic knife ?

.
I picked this one for less than a price of a portion of fish and ships (as per Tim Simmons

).
It came with a modern turned wood handle, which i torn off within the hour.
The tang is no so 'martial' but ...
I wonder what the hole represents, or what is its purpose

. Anyone familiar with such feature ?
A nice patina is present, a possible sign of its age as being 19th. century ?

.

Marcus den toom · 13th May 2015, 09:50 PM

Without any expertise on these knifes

i would say this is a tool used in a barn or shed and hung from that mysterious hole via a nail?

But than again it might just very well be the letter opener that was used in the famous letter from Napoleon when he was defeated?

Jim McDougall · 14th May 2015, 07:40 AM

While this blade seems highly indicative of a dagger, as Fernando notes, there are hunting knives with central ridge (mostly I think with various stag horn etc. hilts) and I would think that curious aperture is likely more for a rivet or hilt securing than any practical purpose.
The patination does indeed suggest age which could certainly be 19th c.

fernando · 14th May 2015, 08:24 PM

Thank you Jim.
A bit distant from the tang for hilt securing, don't you think ?

Jim McDougall · 14th May 2015, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you Jim.
A bit distant from the tang for hilt securing, don't you think ?

Probably so, but who knows what the hilt was like. Sounded logical but then maybe it is just for hanging it on a wall, like the ruler there

13th May 2015, 05:45 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A little blade Why do i always assume that, if a blade has a ridge (even if the other face is flat) has to be that of a weapon and not of a domestic knife ? . I picked this one for less than a price of a portion of fish and ships (as per Tim Simmons ). It came with a modern turned wood handle, which i torn off within the hour. The tang is no so 'martial' but ... I wonder what the hole represents, or what is its purpose . Anyone familiar with such feature ? A nice patina is present, a possible sign of its age as being 19th. century ? . Attached Images

13th May 2015, 09:50 PM	#2
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 541	Without any expertise on these knifes i would say this is a tool used in a barn or shed and hung from that mysterious hole via a nail? But than again it might just very well be the letter opener that was used in the famous letter from Napoleon when he was defeated?

14th May 2015, 07:40 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	While this blade seems highly indicative of a dagger, as Fernando notes, there are hunting knives with central ridge (mostly I think with various stag horn etc. hilts) and I would think that curious aperture is likely more for a rivet or hilt securing than any practical purpose. The patination does indeed suggest age which could certainly be 19th c.

14th May 2015, 08:24 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you Jim. A bit distant from the tang for hilt securing, don't you think ?