Blade for ID

[fernando]

I take it that this is European, but am not sure.
It is only sharpened in the front section, amazingly more in one edge than in the other, but i suspect this wasn't deliberate but due to its rustic make.
A rather thick blade.
Missing the handle; could it be wood?
Would it be a short handle, or the tang was only iserted in part of its length?
Would love to hear your coments on this thing.
Fernando

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[Atlantia]

Looks like it was made to be thrown Nando.

[fernando]

Thanks for the prompt reaction, Gene .
That was also my first reaction.
Assuming that, i went browsing on throwing knives; this one is too sturdy, and once had a handle.
Its weight is 342 grs. (3/4 oz).
It didn't seem (to me) the right shape for a throwing knife.
So i quit the possibility ... so far .
Fernando

[Matchlock]

Hi 'Nando,

Another remarkable piece for your collection! You seem to be extraordinarily active !!!: cool:

As you know I'm not especially focussed on edged arms but on briefing my library I would say it is

a) not very common

b) of Hispanian/Portuguese rather than of Mid European provenance

c) to me it seems to show some old Italian pre-Cinquedean influence and therefore might be dated to either the 1st half to the 16th or the 19th century when the Historismus period reenlivened all the Late Gothic/Early Renaissance shapes.

I like it a lot, anyways!

Best, mi amigo,
Michl

[broadaxe]

This shape tell me of two different origins:
1. Throwing knife indeed, the rather large size and distal taper suggest it is an item made to an expert, possibly a circus thrower. The small hilt area is typical, the grips were usualy of thick leather or fiber, riveted through (check for example the knives made by world famous thrower/knifemaker Harry McEvoy http://www.robertg.com/knifethrowing.htm).
2. Puntilla, Spanish bullfighting dagger, it resembles a throwing knife http://www.loveleaf.net/ts/652.html

[Dmitry]

Could also be a spear/pike head..?

[Jim McDougall]

I'm inclined to agree with Broadaxe in his thoughts on this. I am under the impression that spears and polearms typically were socketed with support langets, though I know in African weapons the tangs went into the hafts on axes etc. To me the holes in the tang were for rivets through the grip.

[fernando]

Thank you all Gentleman, for your input.
I guess i am now reconsidering Gene's first hint.
Indeed if no evidence shows up to prove otherwise, it is quite plausible that this is a handmade throwing knife blade assuming, as suggested by Broadaxe, that its large dimensions were meant for public show, such as in a circus.
This is quite a different approach as it would explain the difference between those elegant stylized factory made blades and this rather sturdy and irregular example
Fernando

[Dmitry]

With the center of gravity being closer to the tang than to the point of the blade, I have doubts about this being a throwing knife. It looks more like a spear/spontoon head. Judging from the surviving examples, majority were of socket design, but there are also period pieces with a tang which would have been inset into the wooden pole, with or without the rivets.
For argument's sake, the easiest way to verify or disprove this would be to tie a piece of wood to the tang to serve as an imaginary handle, and throw this thing 10 times into a piece of cardboard or what not, to see which end of it hits first.

[Atlantia]

Knife throwing (for show purposes) has a long history. Could it be a vintage or even antique Circus/Sideshow item?
Obviously these arent the same, but it shows that there are old 'better' quality throwing knives. If you had one of these without the handle it might well look like a spear head or something.

[fearn]

My first take was throwing knife, too, especially with the way it's sharpened and the fact that the balance is near the middle.

Most spears either seem to have a rat-tail tang or (more commonly) a socketed base. That wide base with two rivet holes really suggests a knife handle to me.

As for the leaf shape--that goes back to the bronze age, so it's not a great clue unfortunately.

Best,

F

[fernando]

Gentlemen,
Here is a link in that, if you care to digest the whole contents, you sure end up being a skilled knife thrower.

http://www.knifethrowing.info/physic..._throwing.html

Being a rather impatient guy, i tried to make a surgical reading, just to unpuzzle a couple situations, like:
It looks like the ideal center of balance, as fern well points out, is located more towards the center of the blade than to the point. Looking at the diagram and comparing with my picture, it appears that this (my) specific example has a throwing knife true balance.
It seems as throwing knives are either held by the blade or by the handle, depending on the tecnique and knife model. Once held by the blade, the correct manner is influenced by the blade being or not sharpened ... and in one or both sides. I always wondered why this (my) blade has one edge sharpened longer than the other. These things don't happen without a reason; maybe this was connected with its owner style of holding it?
It also appears that the reduced length of handles is a current situation; not much comfort there.
Concerning the size, it looks like this (my) example is rather larger than largest sport models. Therefore the circus possibility could have been the issue. You don't go do a public paying spetacle by throwing pocket size knives around the target lady .
Fernando

[Dmitry]

Originally Posted by fernando

It looks like the ideal center of balance, as fern well points out, is located more towards the center of the blade than to the point.

I'll be damned. Was 100% sure it would have to be heavier at the point. I stand corrected.

[broadaxe]

Originally Posted by Dmitry

I'll be damned. Was 100% sure it would have to be heavier at the point. I stand corrected.

Actually the forward-balance in throwing knives is of less importance, it better suites a novice thrower. Advanced throwers tend to prefer rear-balanced, heavier knives for greater distance, usually it takes one full (360 degrees) revolution when thrown handle-held. The rear weight drives the knife well into the target. For even greater distance the thrower switches to blade-hold and the knife spins 1.5 revolution.

[Atlantia]

Enough theory! Nando, get out there and give us a practical demonstration

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Enough theory! Nando, get out there and give us a practical demonstration

Ah, Gene !
If i weren't a forced left hander, i'd throw it from here and pin you against your home gate ... somewhere in the Sunny south of England

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by fernando

Ah, Gene !
If i weren't a forced left hander, i'd throw it from here and pin you against your home gate ... somewhere in the Sunny south of England

ROTFL!!!!!!