Excavated knife/dagger for ID please.

Pukka Bundook · 27th December 2008, 04:26 PM

Gene,

I've found fencing pliers that looked worse, but as I knew they weren't That old, I just dumped them in white vinegar for a few days, and from a corroded lump appeared as if by magic, a pair of again useable pliers!
Trouble with this knife, is you just don't Do that to something if it Is rather old, and herein is the dillema.
It doesn't appear to have the modern bolster, so it Does have some age.

I guess if when it's cleaned up a bit, it says on it; "Wm Rogers, Sheffield"...then you'll know what you have!

Cheers,

R.

ausjulius · 14th January 2009, 05:56 AM

i see a false edge on the clip of the blade, i suspect it is a recently made knife,
ive not seen any knives of this form with a clip blade produced in england till the 18th century..

ausjulius · 14th January 2009, 05:56 AM

i think it is likely a knife from the last 150 years.
mainly by the clip sectio of the tip being ground as it is,
by the rust alone one cannever tell as a knife 1000 years old can be no more rusted than a knife 50 years old when left in the ground if it is in the right area

fearn · 14th January 2009, 05:11 PM

Hi All,

The thing that's got me scratching my head is the lack of a hilt.

Basically, my first instinct is that the blade is fairly recent (20th Century, late 19th at the earliest), mostly because it isn't totally corroded.

Problem with that is, if it's so recent, there should be remnants of the handle.

Perhaps the detectorist removed the handle? Otherwise, it could be a blade blank.

My 0.0002 pence,

F

Lew · 14th January 2009, 08:28 PM

England was one of the largest cutlery makers during the 19th century so the blade could have been a second the was discarded.

Lew

Atlantia · 15th January 2009, 03:39 PM

Hi Guys, thanks for keeping this one in mind.
It was brought up by a deep plough. So any remains of a handle were not visible when my friend dug it.
I would normally just assume it was a reasonably modern blade, but it doesn't look like a farmers knife.

Anandalal N. · 15th January 2009, 04:31 PM

I tried sending you this as a PM but could not. I am interested in your comment on olive oil. I have an ancient blade that is badly affected by rust and I was thinking intially of studying it without any invasive cleaning. I have used X-Ray photography before which brings some details out. But if olive oil is an effective rust remover with minimum harm I may try this method. Do you have any more details on this method.

Best Regards.

Tim Simmons · 15th January 2009, 05:26 PM

I think Lew may be right. I found this heavy horse shoe up by the Uffington White horse and the Weyland Smithy. Looks like your knife has been buried in very much the same soil type.

15th January 2009, 04:31 PM	#7
Anandalal N. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 84	Dear Richard, I tried sending you this as a PM but could not. I am interested in your comment on olive oil. I have an ancient blade that is badly affected by rust and I was thinking intially of studying it without any invasive cleaning. I have used X-Ray photography before which brings some details out. But if olive oil is an effective rust remover with minimum harm I may try this method. Do you have any more details on this method. Best Regards.

15th January 2009, 05:26 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,879	I think Lew may be right. I found this heavy horse shoe up by the Uffington White horse and the Weyland Smithy. Looks like your knife has been buried in very much the same soil type. Attached Images

27th December 2008, 04:26 PM	#1
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	Gene, I've found fencing pliers that looked worse, but as I knew they weren't That old, I just dumped them in white vinegar for a few days, and from a corroded lump appeared as if by magic, a pair of again useable pliers! Trouble with this knife, is you just don't Do that to something if it Is rather old, and herein is the dillema. It doesn't appear to have the modern bolster, so it Does have some age. I guess if when it's cleaned up a bit, it says on it; "Wm Rogers, Sheffield"...then you'll know what you have! Cheers, R.

14th January 2009, 05:56 AM	#2
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 458	i see a false edge on the clip of the blade, i suspect it is a recently made knife, ive not seen any knives of this form with a clip blade produced in england till the 18th century..

14th January 2009, 05:11 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi All, The thing that's got me scratching my head is the lack of a hilt. Basically, my first instinct is that the blade is fairly recent (20th Century, late 19th at the earliest), mostly because it isn't totally corroded. Problem with that is, if it's so recent, there should be remnants of the handle. Perhaps the detectorist removed the handle? Otherwise, it could be a blade blank. My 0.0002 pence, F

14th January 2009, 08:28 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	England was one of the largest cutlery makers during the 19th century so the blade could have been a second the was discarded. Lew

15th January 2009, 03:39 PM	#6
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Guys, thanks for keeping this one in mind. It was brought up by a deep plough. So any remains of a handle were not visible when my friend dug it. I would normally just assume it was a reasonably modern blade, but it doesn't look like a farmers knife.