Anglo-Indian Knives

Jon MB · 24th January 2018, 09:36 PM

I am surprised it's not immediately evident that Ken's piece from post six is both older and of superior quality. The Agate Grip is but one indicator of the latter, and the patina of the fittings and blade of the former.

For example, compare the craftsmanship of the scabbard throat on all the pieces here, (or of the chapes). less of a 'mass produced' feel to Ken's piece.

A. G. Maisey · 25th January 2018, 06:21 AM

Thank you Jon for explaining to me that the hilt material is just one of the things that makes the post #6 knife superior to all of the others .

I would be very pleased to hear of the other things.

I'm only addressing the knife with my question, not the scabbard. The scabbard may be better than some of the others, or it may not, I'd have to handle all of them to form any opinion at all, I cannot assess the scabbard from photos, but I can form a good preliminary opinion of the knives from the photos.

Just as you are surprised that it was not immediately evident to me that the post #6 knife is superior in quality to all the other knives, it was very surprising to me that two of our very experienced members voted the post #6 knife as better than the others.

I admit, these knives are a little bit out of my field of study, so perhaps I do not see them in quite the same way that some other collectors might. Bearing this inadequacy in mind, I have put aside the objects in which I specialise, and I am drawing upon my experience as a custom knife-maker and blade-smith in attempting to form an objective opinion.

I eagerly await further education.

Sajen · 25th January 2018, 08:04 AM

Hello Alan,
I was yesterday busy but have seen your question, in the moment I am at work and write now by smartphone what I hate. Better from quality I see it (the piece in post #6) special in comparison with the three pieces in the first post on the right from Ian, his first shown dagger and all other shown pieces have a similar good workmanship. The three pieces on the right from the first post look like well worked early tourist pieces to my eyes. That was meant by my statement.
Regards,
Detlef

A. G. Maisey · 25th January 2018, 08:52 AM

Thanks Detlef.

Yeah, communication by Smartphone sucks. Agreed. I hate it so much I don't even own a Smartphone, and I leave my 15 year old mobile switched off, unless I want to make a call.

I'll wait until you get onto a proper keyboard where you can express yourself clearly and give me a proper analysis.

What I'm looking at is fit, finish, condition, design, craftsmanship.

I'm looking at the post #6 knife, and all the others, as if they were in a competition to select the knife that has been most skillfully crafted. In other words, which knife from amongst all of these is likely to be the work of a master, not the work of a village tinkerer.

I am not looking at what I might like to own for one reason or another.

I am applying purely objective judgement --- the sort of judgement that gets applied to knives in custom knife making competitions.

Jon MB · 25th January 2018, 09:16 AM

Apologies if my previous post seemed abrupt, I'll add more later.

Kmaddock · 25th January 2018, 09:17 AM

if any more pictures are required for the "competition"

ask away. I am in no way strongly attached to this knife so I do not mind at all if the judges vote against my knife in the virtual competetion

The scabbard has no chape and has been singed in a fire at the top.
The cover is a v fine leather
Regards

Ken

mariusgmioc · 25th January 2018, 10:33 AM

Double message deleted.

mariusgmioc · 25th January 2018, 10:43 AM

I disagree with the idea that the knife at #6 is better than the others.

While the knives at #1 are quite touristy and probably made for the souvenirs market (see the fairly crude etchings on their blades), the knives at #3 (second one) and #12 are of very good workmanship that I find much better than that of #6.

Both knives at #3 (second one) and #12 have very carefully chiseled blades, with T-shaped spine and reinforced edge, as opposed to the blade of #6, that is only grooved.

Moreover, the knives at #3 (second one) and #12 have much more elaborate hilts, with pommels and front bolsters of hard stone and mid portions with intricately made mother-of-pearl geometric paterns, as opposed to the knife of #6 that has very basic hilt made of two slabs of hard stone.

So in my oppinion, the knives at #3 (second one) and #6 are of significantly better workmanship/quality than the knife at #6.

A. G. Maisey · 25th January 2018, 11:12 AM

Thank you for your contributions gentlemen.

To clarify a point:- my intent was not and is not to stage any sort of competition, virtual or otherwise, I asked the question because I felt that I needed to understand the reason, or reasons, why two experienced people should select the post #6 knife as "better" than all others.

Why is it "better"?

What makes it "better"?

What does "better" mean?

That it might be considered "better" is an opinion, and in somebody's opinion it might indeed be "better", so just exactly what factors make it "better" for that person.

This is what I really would like to know, or at least, understand.

25th January 2018, 10:33 AM	#7
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	Double message deleted. Last edited by mariusgmioc; 25th January 2018 at 10:43 AM.

24th January 2018, 09:36 PM	#1
Jon MB Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 143	I am surprised it's not immediately evident that Ken's piece from post six is both older and of superior quality. The Agate Grip is but one indicator of the latter, and the patina of the fittings and blade of the former. For example, compare the craftsmanship of the scabbard throat on all the pieces here, (or of the chapes). less of a 'mass produced' feel to Ken's piece.

25th January 2018, 06:21 AM	#2
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Thank you Jon for explaining to me that the hilt material is just one of the things that makes the post #6 knife superior to all of the others . I would be very pleased to hear of the other things. I'm only addressing the knife with my question, not the scabbard. The scabbard may be better than some of the others, or it may not, I'd have to handle all of them to form any opinion at all, I cannot assess the scabbard from photos, but I can form a good preliminary opinion of the knives from the photos. Just as you are surprised that it was not immediately evident to me that the post #6 knife is superior in quality to all the other knives, it was very surprising to me that two of our very experienced members voted the post #6 knife as better than the others. I admit, these knives are a little bit out of my field of study, so perhaps I do not see them in quite the same way that some other collectors might. Bearing this inadequacy in mind, I have put aside the objects in which I specialise, and I am drawing upon my experience as a custom knife-maker and blade-smith in attempting to form an objective opinion. I eagerly await further education.

25th January 2018, 08:04 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,212	Hello Alan, I was yesterday busy but have seen your question, in the moment I am at work and write now by smartphone what I hate. Better from quality I see it (the piece in post #6) special in comparison with the three pieces in the first post on the right from Ian, his first shown dagger and all other shown pieces have a similar good workmanship. The three pieces on the right from the first post look like well worked early tourist pieces to my eyes. That was meant by my statement. Regards, Detlef

25th January 2018, 08:52 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Thanks Detlef. Yeah, communication by Smartphone sucks. Agreed. I hate it so much I don't even own a Smartphone, and I leave my 15 year old mobile switched off, unless I want to make a call. I'll wait until you get onto a proper keyboard where you can express yourself clearly and give me a proper analysis. What I'm looking at is fit, finish, condition, design, craftsmanship. I'm looking at the post #6 knife, and all the others, as if they were in a competition to select the knife that has been most skillfully crafted. In other words, which knife from amongst all of these is likely to be the work of a master, not the work of a village tinkerer. I am not looking at what I might like to own for one reason or another. I am applying purely objective judgement --- the sort of judgement that gets applied to knives in custom knife making competitions.

25th January 2018, 09:16 AM	#5
Jon MB Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 143	Apologies if my previous post seemed abrupt, I'll add more later.

25th January 2018, 09:17 AM	#6
Kmaddock Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Ireland Posts: 543	if any more pictures are required for the "competition" ask away. I am in no way strongly attached to this knife so I do not mind at all if the judges vote against my knife in the virtual competetion The scabbard has no chape and has been singed in a fire at the top. The cover is a v fine leather Regards Ken

25th January 2018, 10:43 AM	#8
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,911	I disagree with the idea that the knife at #6 is better than the others. While the knives at #1 are quite touristy and probably made for the souvenirs market (see the fairly crude etchings on their blades), the knives at #3 (second one) and #12 are of very good workmanship that I find much better than that of #6. Both knives at #3 (second one) and #12 have very carefully chiseled blades, with T-shaped spine and reinforced edge, as opposed to the blade of #6, that is only grooved. Moreover, the knives at #3 (second one) and #12 have much more elaborate hilts, with pommels and front bolsters of hard stone and mid portions with intricately made mother-of-pearl geometric paterns, as opposed to the knife of #6 that has very basic hilt made of two slabs of hard stone. So in my oppinion, the knives at #3 (second one) and #6 are of significantly better workmanship/quality than the knife at #6.

25th January 2018, 11:12 AM	#9
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Thank you for your contributions gentlemen. To clarify a point:- my intent was not and is not to stage any sort of competition, virtual or otherwise, I asked the question because I felt that I needed to understand the reason, or reasons, why two experienced people should select the post #6 knife as "better" than all others. Why is it "better"? What makes it "better"? What does "better" mean? That it might be considered "better" is an opinion, and in somebody's opinion it might indeed be "better", so just exactly what factors make it "better" for that person. This is what I really would like to know, or at least, understand.