Arctic? knife/tool? ideas?

Tim Simmons · 31st May 2008, 05:09 PM

Or a tourist paper knife? Curios car boot buy £1.

Bone blade antler handle. Blade set into the handle. I have no idea as to the adhesive material except it looks like a dried animal substance rather like bone marrow. Decorated as can be seen. Has a patina of prolonged use, which my picture only give a hint of. The blade shows signs of heavier use than opening letters. Total length 164mm, blade 96mm. Lots of pics to follow.

Lew · 31st May 2008, 05:17 PM

Tim

Moose or caribou antler I think? Most likely a letter opener the tip chipped off at some point.

Lew

Tim Simmons · 31st May 2008, 05:26 PM

Yes I would think a late 19th early 20 century quality tourist piece would by now have an old patina of use. The chips are worn smooth but I suppose they are polished from years of opening letters.

Henk · 31st May 2008, 07:42 PM

Nice find Tim.
When antler is heated in boiling water the inner part becomes soft. When the tang is put in its place and the antler is cooling down the knife is thight in the gripp.
In the bronze age the tang of bronze knifes where heated and stuck into the antler and in this way attached to an antler gripp.

It has a scandinavian look to me. A letter opener could be. But bone knifes where used in the past.

Tim Simmons · 31st May 2008, 08:01 PM

Thanks Henk. It does have good age my pictures do not really show that well. The blade does have that "Peuko" or what ever shape. A paper knife was my first thoughts to. It may well be a paper knife, whoever had it cut paper all day long, every day like a filleter cuts fish all day, judging by the polish, wear and patina?

Tim Simmons · 31st May 2008, 08:52 PM

I am starting to think more seriously about this paper knife. It just does not smack me as a tourist item because it has been well used, also although decorated it is very understated. Look at this link. It does not down load fast or well for me but note-

63571 Bone snow cutter
60896 Bone implement
35169 Bone implement

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

31st May 2008, 05:09 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Arctic? knife/tool? ideas? Or a tourist paper knife? Curios car boot buy £1. Bone blade antler handle. Blade set into the handle. I have no idea as to the adhesive material except it looks like a dried animal substance rather like bone marrow. Decorated as can be seen. Has a patina of prolonged use, which my picture only give a hint of. The blade shows signs of heavier use than opening letters. Total length 164mm, blade 96mm. Lots of pics to follow. Attached Images

31st May 2008, 05:26 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Yes I would think a late 19th early 20 century quality tourist piece would by now have an old patina of use. The chips are worn smooth but I suppose they are polished from years of opening letters. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 31st May 2008 at 07:53 PM.

31st May 2008, 08:52 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Sami snow cutter? I am starting to think more seriously about this paper knife. It just does not smack me as a tourist item because it has been well used, also although decorated it is very understated. Look at this link. It does not down load fast or well for me but note- 63571 Bone snow cutter 60896 Bone implement 35169 Bone implement http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN Last edited by Tim Simmons; 31st May 2008 at 09:41 PM.

31st May 2008, 05:17 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim Moose or caribou antler I think? Most likely a letter opener the tip chipped off at some point. Lew

31st May 2008, 07:42 PM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Nice find Tim. When antler is heated in boiling water the inner part becomes soft. When the tang is put in its place and the antler is cooling down the knife is thight in the gripp. In the bronze age the tang of bronze knifes where heated and stuck into the antler and in this way attached to an antler gripp. It has a scandinavian look to me. A letter opener could be. But bone knifes where used in the past.

31st May 2008, 08:01 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks Henk. It does have good age my pictures do not really show that well. The blade does have that "Peuko" or what ever shape. A paper knife was my first thoughts to. It may well be a paper knife, whoever had it cut paper all day long, every day like a filleter cuts fish all day, judging by the polish, wear and patina?