An obscure one?

[tombear]

A while back I picked up a bronze (I believe) Knife, Magazine, Mk II.

What would be the best angle to sharpen it to?...

Don't ask me why I bought it, I've no idea! (it was cheap)

ATB

Tom

 

[Englishrose222]

Hi Tom

Can you tell us a bit more or even show us a picture and it would depend on what you were using your knife for, would depend on the angle that you would apply. A good general purpose angle is said to be 20 degrees.

Tracy

 

[leon-b]

i dont know if this is right but i was told that if you do alot of game preperation you want a steeper angle ?
leon

 

[tombear]

Unfortunately its buried while we are decorating but its a lot like a MoD type D (just about fits the same sheath). Theres a illustration of one almost identical on page 117 of Ron Flooks "British and Commonwealth Military knives" (scanner also not to hand). So I should just treat it like a steel knife to all intents and purposes?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Marts]

You mean it's made of bronze i'm assuming?

Interesting question if that's the case. I certainly won't pretend to have the answer but I would assume being made of bronze it will be softer than steel and therefore an acutish angle like 20 degrees might be a bit too steep. maybe something more like 40 degrees. Though really i'm just guesstimating. Perhaps some of our smithy members like Espy or Mike or Wayland will know a bit better. Failing that you could skip over to our neighbours place (BB) and ask there.

 

[Pete E]

Why would anybody make a knife from bronze these days???
Seems strange unless it was for specialist use, ie in a no spark area...

 

[tombear]

Yep, it is bronze or some alloy of same, according to the book (my only source of information on it) the design came out in 1903 for use in magazines where sparks are a really bad idea. Currently they are using a Mk III version.

I thought it would be interesting to try a bronze knife and this was a cheap way of doing it. Making a proper replica is quite beyond me and no doubt from the work/skills involved buying one isn't fianancially on the cards for me.

Cheers

Tom

 

[tombear]

I've dug out the bronze knife, and a Type D for scale (the bronze is about 3/4 inch shorter in the blade). If I do a photo could some one please put it up as making them a reasonable size on screen is beyond me.

Tom

 

[Marts]

I've dug out the bronze knife, and a Type D for scale (the bronze is about 3/4 inch shorter in the blade). If I do a photo could some one please put it up as making them a reasonable size on screen is beyond me.

Tom

Tom - I will PM my e-mail to you. Forward me the photo and i'll sort it out.

 

[tombear]

Thanks! photos sent.

ATB

Tom

 

[Marts]

Here's Tom's photos of the knife

 

[Toddy]

I'm interested in the answers to this 'cos I have two bronze knives for a Bronze Age activity with Historic Scotland/ schools. I'd like to have one sharp and actually work with it so I know what I'm talking about. The blunt one will be used for the kids/ handling, etc.
I really want to use it for skinning and meat prep..

atb,
Toddy

 

[sam_acw]

I did a course with Neil Burridge (or look here ) last summer and he had a few point worth mentioning here.

• It took many centuries to develop shaving sharp iron tools - bronze ones are easy to make
• Bronze needs to be work hardened as much as it needs to be sharpened
• Work hardening is very difficult to do consistently
• Bronze itself wasn't really superior to stone for short tools - aside from swords and axes
• Bronze casting was limited (as injection moulding and casting are still) more by physics than the material or skill of the caster

This is all I can remember now. These points were made by a professional bronze caster and experimental archaeologist. They may well be biased and I don't have the knowledge to contradict what he said. I don't know if it's all relevant but I hope it gives food for thought. :swordfigh