Couple of Scottish Highlander Blades

Register to hide this ad
Tod's Workshop in England makes a lot of traditional knives and I think a Scottish dagger. Yours are beautiful.

I found it interesting that knives were used for a lot of purposes other than weapons in 18th century Europe, cutting ropes, peeling vegetables, and surprisingly, for eating. The fork wasn't introduced until around the Revolutionary War era, up until then, it was knives and spoons.
 
Gene L said:
The fork wasn't introduced until around the Revolutionary War era, up until then, it was knives and spoons.
Click to expand...

Eh, historical checks indicate that forks go back to
ancient times but the northern Europeans were slow
to pick up their use. By the Middle Ages, they were pretty
common in much of Europe. Perhaps it's an indication how
backward the insular Scots were? :D
 
That is a knock down gorgeous knife. I have a cheap imitation, same size I picked up in Scotland in 1961 when I was stationed in England. I always wanted a "real" one. I use my cheap imitation every day to open my mail.
 
UncleEd said:
Eh, historical checks indicate that forks go back to
ancient times but the northern Europeans were slow
to pick up their use. By the Middle Ages, they were pretty
common in much of Europe. Perhaps it's an indication how
backward the insular Scots were? :D
Click to expand...

Two-pronged carving forks go way back, but eating forks are seen in the Renaissance, and then by wealthy people. Common people's use of the fork met a lot of resistance in the English speaking world where they were considered effeminate. Possibly because they were "foreign." And the eating fork, with several tines for scooping up food evolved from the two-tined fork, which was good for stabbing, not so practical for the way forks are used today.

They weren't widely accepted in England until well into the 18th century, and not in America until after the Revolution, says
Jas Townsend who is acknowledged as an expert on 18th century culinary information. He has a very informative website where he prepares food using era recipes and era correct cookery. He's the source of some of my post above. Plus, if you look up The History of the Fork on the web, it seems to confirm this. Says as late as 1897 British sailors wouldn't use forks because the didn't think it was manly. Townsend is popular with BP guys who go to him for rendezvous authenticity.
 
Those are two good looking pieces of work. Bet you spend more than coffee break time making them.

Really like the blade treatment on the Sgian Dubh, that looks great.
 
Beautiful knives!

Always enjoy your posts and photos of your finished work, Opaul. Would be fun sometime to see photos of the work in progress. I think perhaps you mentioned in a post some time ago that you use the stock removal process?
 
Onomea said:
Beautiful knives!

Always enjoy your posts and photos of your finished work, Opaul. Would be fun sometime to see photos of the work in progress. I think perhaps you mentioned in a post some time ago that you use the stock removal process?
Click to expand...

Thank you! The little Sgian Dubh is forged from a damascus billet and finished on my grinder. The Dirk is 52100 stock removal.
I'm incorporating more forging in my work. Hope to attend a week end forging school some time in April.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
New 610-3
Replies
5
Views
433
Rock185
Rock185
sandog
66-1 Purchase
Replies
5
Views
460
S&W Fan
S
CajunBass
I'm not really a S/A fan...but...
Replies
1
Views
428
Hawg Rider
H
boykinlp
EXTREMELY Interesting Colt, To Me!
2
Replies
21
Views
1K
JohnRippert
JohnRippert
Slufstuff
USAF Model 15-2 trio
Replies
5
Views
955
Retired W4
Retired W4

Latest posts

Back
Top