Excavated knife/dagger for ID please.

[Atlantia]

This one is aimed at the Archeologists really. A detectorist friend of mine dug this after a deep plough in a field known for medieval and earlier items.
I havent touched it and its dry and as dug. I wanted to get some opinions on it before I chime in with my thoughts.
Thanks
Gene

[Gavin Nugent]

I know not what it is but the general shape reminds me of the Viking Scramasax, just immeadiate romantic notions. I have seen several the same size and shape passed as Scramasax in auction houses over the years. I have also seen Spanish sytle bowie blades of the exact same profile. I would like to hear your views.

Gav

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by freebooter

I know not what it is but the general shape reminds me of the Viking Scramasax, just immeadiate romantic notions. I have seen several the same size and shape passed as Scramasax in auction houses over the years. I have also seen Spanish sytle bowie blades of the exact same profile. I would like to hear your views.

Gav

Hi Gav

I agree, I know not what it is either, but it also reminds me of a Scramasax and there would be Saxon type daggers in fields in England.
I just didn't want to be the first to say it.
Any ideas of how I should try and conserve it? Its far further 'gone' than anything I've ever bothered with before?
Nobody else wants to come in with an opinion?

Regards
Gene

[Gavin Nugent]

I would continue with investigations before I considered conservation, It may just be an early 1900s English or German bowie knife lost by a traveller?

I am interested in hearing what others have to say and perhaps your local museum in the area, they may have other examples and be able to tell better who roamed the areas that it was found.

Gav

[Pukka Bundook]

I would tend to think fairly modern, really.
The shoulders on the tang still look nice and square, and being a comparatively small blade, think if it was Saxon, would have been much more corroded.
I know on the farm we have found dateable items, that looked as rough as if from the Viking age, yet can only be from the 1880's at earliest.
(Here in Alberta, there was no-one farming west of Red Deer river 'til 1880's)

When still 'home' in Yorkshire, my dad lost and found a pocket knife after about 30 years. the blade was half eaten away,...and the knife was stuck in a beam in the mill-house.....not buried or anything. (He'd been working on a grain grinder when he lost it.)

Just my thoughs.

Re. conservation, I'd soak it in a bath of Olive oil. This oil has something in it that really lifts rust, but in a gentle manner, and doesnt leave the finish looking like it'd been in vinegar or anything.

All the best,

Richard.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Pukka Bundook

I would tend to think fairly modern, really.
The shoulders on the tang still look nice and square, and being a comparatively small blade, think if it was Saxon, would have been much more corroded.
I know on the farm we have found dateable items, that looked as rough as if from the Viking age, yet can only be from the 1880's at earliest.
(Here in Alberta, there was no-one farming west of Red Deer river 'til 1880's)

When still 'home' in Yorkshire, my dad lost and found a pocket knife after about 30 years. the blade was half eaten away,...and the knife was stuck in a beam in the mill-house.....not buried or anything. (He'd been working on a grain grinder when he lost it.)

Just my thoughs.

Re. conservation, I'd soak it in a bath of Olive oil. This oil has something in it that really lifts rust, but in a gentle manner, and doesnt leave the finish looking like it'd been in vinegar or anything.

All the best,

Richard.

Thanks Richard!
I think it must be worth an oil oil dip!
I'll do it and post results cheers Matey!
Gene

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by freebooter

I would continue with investigations before I considered conservation, It may just be an early 1900s English or German bowie knife lost by a traveller?

I am interested in hearing what others have to say and perhaps your local museum in the area, they may have other examples and be able to tell better who roamed the areas that it was found.

Gav

Well thats the problem.

Its a detector find from a field that was worthy of interest because it turns up objects from the medieval period back to the roman.
Theres no way of definatively IDing its period from the location sadly.
Could be a genuine rarity or a random loss from the 1960s!