Antique spring assist/gravity wrist daggers

[Rick]

Is this what you mean ?
A antique version ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_knife

[josh stout]

I once asked Scott Rodell about the brass spring loaded wrist darts from China that one occasionally sees on eBay, and he said that, while he was skeptical about the ones for sale, they were based on a real weapon. Chinese throwing knives, needles etc. are pretty rare, though they are well documented in martial arts styles and period novels. The wrist dart holders look like brass tubes around eight inches long and shoot needles like short fat knitting needles. The dart is spring loaded. There is a groove going around near the tip of the dart and this slots into a small release mechanism that can be depressed with a finger.

I can't think of any similar arrangement where a fixed blade sprang out like that. There were double and single knives or even small maces that were traditionally hidden up a sleeve, but nothing fixed. The Chinese like to be able to spin their knives around.
Josh

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by josh stout

I once asked Scott Rodell about the brass spring loaded wrist darts from China that one occasionally sees on eBay, and he said that, while he was skeptical about the ones for sale, they were based on a real weapon. Chinese throwing knives, needles etc. are pretty rare, though they are well documented in martial arts styles and period novels. The wrist dart holders look like brass tubes around eight inches long and shoot needles like short fat knitting needles. The dart is spring loaded. There is a groove going around near the tip of the dart and this slots into a small release mechanism that can be depressed with a finger.

I can't think of any similar arrangement where a fixed blade sprang out like that. There were double and single knives or even small maces that were traditionally hidden up a sleeve, but nothing fixed. The Chinese like to be able to spin their knives around.
Josh

Ah I like it! Never seen one before, interesting 'dinky toy firing missile' principal of manufacture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYOlI...eature=related

Might be fun to make one.........

[fearn]

And, of course, the Turkana didn't wear sleeves over these.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by fearn

And, of course, the Turkana didn't wear sleeves over these.

LOL, true enough!

[josh stout]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Ah I like it! Never seen one before, interesting 'dinky toy firing missile' principal of manufacture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYOlI...eature=related

Might be fun to make one.........

Wow, you found one. That looks pretty typical of the ones I have seen pictures of. I wonder how old it is? I see things that make me think it has some age, and things like the slot cut into the side that look recent.

Notice how thick the spring seems. It looks like it had some power.
Josh

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by josh stout

Wow, you found one. That looks pretty typical of the ones I have seen pictures of. I wonder how old it is? I see things that make me think it has some age, and things like the slot cut into the side that look recent.

Notice how thick the spring seems. It looks like it had some power.
Josh

The spring looks like its out of a cheap chinese air-gun. I think it would be fairly easy to make something along these lines.
Be fun to try!

[ariel]

Aren't they against the law?

[Rick]

Very .