My version of a Ring ended Knife

[dave budd]

Following on from a thread by Folkert van Wijk, where he has shown off his new knife...

here is my version of a ring ended knife.

Blade length: 7 1/2"
Overall length: 12 1/2"
material: EN47 (chrome vanadium spring steel)



Since I would never consider trying to make an exact copy of another of my knives, there seemed no point in recreating exactly an original. Instead I used these two roman examples for inspiriation :wink:





I'm seeing it as a very nice kitchen knife and the ring (apart from looking cool) would serve to hang it from a nail. Obviously, it could still be used for all sorts, but the look and feel of it suggest 'kitchen use' to me.

[M. Demetrius]

Very nice, Dave. Got a range of time period that knife would have been used?

[dave budd]

From what I can remember it's something mostly seen pre-conquest (back to maybe 300BC), but dates of 1st C AD also come to mind.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

very nice work. Forged?

[M. Demetrius]

Looks like the ring starts out as a punched-from-the-blank ring, so how did you get that nice smoothness all around the ring? Got a special swage or something?

[dave budd]

very nice work. Forged?

no, it's real :lol:

sorry.

Yes, all done with hammers I punched the hole initially but then the shape of the ring end was mostly created with a couple of files. I tidied up the back edge of the blade with a file and left the surfaces as forged.

[M. Demetrius]

very nice work. Forged?
no, it's real :lol:

Excellent! :lol: :!:

[Robert]

Good job, Dave! I like your makers mark as well. Still have to get one of those to mark my knives with, but just haven't gotten around to making the design I want. I forged the original for Folkert and that type is pretty difficult because of the way the handle is shaped, being thickest at the end towards the ring. Probably would not have gone for the drop point myself, as that is a feature on later era knives which do not have ring handles, but it looks like a very well made and efficient piece of cutlery.

[dave budd]

cheers.

It's not quite as dropped pointed as it looks in the picture, about 4mm from highest to lowest along the spine. It actually drops a very very little more than the one in the lower example picture. If you have anby suggestions where I can find good pictures to copy from with dates and provenance, then I would be very grateful

[Robert]

Salve! Ah, OK, I understand. No flies on this one, then!
Where did you get that makers mark made?

[Folkert van Wijk]

Verry nice indeed!!

Job well done, any more to come??

[dave budd]

Definitely more to come! I actually made a version of this knife earlier in the year, but I sold it before I realised that I didn't have a photo of it :roll: Had to remake it to show here :lol: When I made the first one I also did a couple of seax like variations, but alas no pictures.

In terms of the all-steel knives, I have decided to make a range of kitchen knives along those lines (maybe not with rings though) for modern kitchens. I'm also hoping to spend some time making more archaological interpretations very soon. I'm off to the national Knife shows in Belgium and Holland this year, so I'm hoping to have something old with me there :wink:


Robert, my makers' mark is new this year for me. I decided to go for a pictoral mark rather than my name (my last stamp said 'Budd') so that I could start to do more historical recreations. The picture is a creation of mine based on the Uffington White Horse and my great lurcher, Saxen.

[Matt Lukes]

Very nice work Dave- funny, I've just been messing around making a few of these knives myself- inspired by Robert's work actually These ancient styles really are esthetically-pleasing and they're quite functional even in low-carbon steel...