Traditional British knives, anyone?

[big_swede]

So, we've all seen, read and heard about scandinavian utility knives and axes (scandis, moras, helle, leukus, GFB and whatnot).

One of my reflections is that there is seldom anything said about traditional british cutting tools. A post here about bushseax and a billhook there, but in general, very little.

Since I've grown up with moras and puokkos, I would really like to see, and read about, some nice british blades.

Come on, hit me!

 

[Snufkin]

Not British, but there is the Scottish dirk and scein dhu (sp?)

 

[big_swede]

Not British, but there is the Scottish dirk and scein dhu (sp?)

Congratulations, the quickest reply I've ever seen!

But scottish is okay, everything from the british isles. Any pictures? Sounds like a big knife, with a slighty curved blade. Somewhere near?

 

[Toddy]

The sgian dubh, the sgian ochlas, the dirk and the claymore

http://www.armourclass.com/Data/Pages/Scottish Collection2.htm

http://www.rainnea.com/custom-sgian-dubhs.htm

http://www.caledoniancreations.co.uk/Scottish-Dirks/Dirks-Main.htm

http://www.knifemaker.co.uk/highland-dirks.htm

We don't seem to hear much about fisherfolks knives though

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Shinken]

I would be really really interested in this too. It's got me wondering.....

Maybe there are archeological forums to ask on, also Dave Budd might know i believe he was an archeologist........ Maybe some of his knifes on his site follow an old english style, i dont know.

I wonder what handle's where made of?

Oh sorry my thoughts are escaping

 

[big_swede]

The sgian dubh, the sgian ochlas, the dirk and the claymore

http://www.armourclass.com/Data/Pages/Scottish Collection2.htm

http://www.rainnea.com/custom-sgian-dubhs.htm

http://www.caledoniancreations.co.uk/Scottish-Dirks/Dirks-Main.htm

http://www.knifemaker.co.uk/highland-dirks.htm

We don't seem to hear much about fisherfolks knives though

cheers,
Toddy

Hmmm, seems to be more of daggers than utility knives to me. But a claymore would be fun to cut sapplings with.

As you say, the fisherfolks knives would be interesting.

 

[bloodline]

Maggies lot shut down all the steel industries i new we would regret it one day rest in peace all those lovely little Sheffield made penknives I had when I was a kid

 

[Shinken]

And after maggies lot shut them down blairs lot replaced them with banks to manage all our debt that the country now relies on

 

[sam_acw]

Aside from the politics, What constitutes a British knife?
Made in Britain or British style? Seaxes are a Saxon import, billhooks seem just as common in France and many Sheffield knives were made for the export Market. The US cutlery industry didn't really get going until their civil war in the 1860s.

 

[OldBaldGuy]

I've got a Mod 4, and used to have a Sykes-Fairbairn, but it is probably still in Nam. Do they qualify as "British" knives???

The Mod 4 is great for splitting kindling, not worth a damn for cleaning your fingernails. The S-F is just the opposite...

 

[big_swede]

I've got a Mod 4, and used to have a Sykes-Fairbairn, but it is probably still in Nam. Do they qualify as "British" knives???

The Mod 4 is great for splitting kindling, not worth a damn for cleaning your fingernails. The S-F is just the opposite...

Well, hmm, I was thinking of more traditional utility knifes. But sure, they seem to british all right. I wouldn't use the S-F for buschcrafting though.

 

[bent-stick]

Traditionally the archers pick and the bollock dagger are very british.

that's b-0-l-l-0-c-k (in case it gets censored - sorry but that's what it's called.

 

[Green Arrow]

Some Sheffield manufacturers seem to be going still

www.penknives-and-scissors.co.uk

have not got one of theirs but look quite traditional from the Website, in a later traditional way.

 

[Tiley]

I'm not sure that there is such a thing as a 'traditional' British knife. Like language, knife shapes and materials go in and out of fashion according to need. Now, I suppose the 'traditional' British knife for bushcrafting purposes would be the kind of things offered by Roger Harrington, Alan Wood (if you're prepared to wait for them!), Stephen Wade Cox and Paul Baker.

 

[Marts]

There is the archaeological reference book Knives and Scabbards by Jane Cowgill and Margrethe De Neegaard.

This covers many of the knives, scabbards and other cutlery finds made in London - particularly 12th to 15th Century. It also has lots of technical drawings of the items with dimensions for those that want to try and reproduce them.

 

[OldBaldGuy]

"...I wouldn't use the S-F for buschcrafting though...'

It was really only good for cleaning fingernails and sticking people...

 

[bambodoggy]

Well, hmm, I was thinking of more traditional utility knifes. But sure, they seem to british all right.

See the problem is that we didn't get much chance to make utility knives, due to a certain bunch of big hairy people from across the sea landing on our east coast and winding up the locals Hence, we needed daggers more! lol

:swordfigh

 

[BorderReiver]

The average peasant used a sickle and a bilhook mostly.
The knife would double as weapon and a tool to cut up food.Hence the preponderance of daggers.

The big hairy men from the north had a good grasp of metal and knife making and their knives would have been adopted by the original populace.The Saxon styles were probably superseded by those of the later invaders.

 

[chrisanson]

I think the “big hairy men from the north” adopted the seax from the
Locals cos it was so good.
Chris

 

[big_swede]

See the problem is that we didn't get much chance to make utility knives, due to a certain bunch of big hairy people from across the sea landing on our east coast and winding up the locals Hence, we needed daggers more! lol

:swordfigh

Ooops, sorry