uncommon belgian bread knife with arm support

Emanuel · 7th February 2013, 04:34 AM

Hello,

Nifty tool.

Fernando K, the knife would be held the reverse way, the metal support resting on the top of the arm, not the bottom, and with the edge of the blade is on the concave side.

Regards,
Emanuel

fernando · 7th February 2013, 01:21 PM

I would say Fernando K drawing is correct.

.

TimW · 8th February 2013, 07:53 AM

Fernando is right. I guess the handle has shrunk a bit and normally covered the entire tang.

Imagine somebody holding the big loaf of bread against the chest with the left arm (almost hugging the bread); holding the knife in the right hand, the support touching the outside part of the lower arm. Cutting slices in a pulling direction, cutting towards the body.

This piece is very intriguing: simple and rather roughly manufactured (no fancy details - just form and function) but very efficient. And important in daily life!

Regarding dimensions: the blade is approx 2 mm thick (thin - for good slicing), convex grind, but rather flat and 27 cm long. The handle is 11 cm (wooden part); 18 cm between the end of the handle and the U shape.

Congoblades · 8th February 2013, 10:19 AM

When I was very young (sixties) my grandmother had such a knife for cutting bread, not the large farmers bread but the normal size (the size of the blade was just like a normal bread knife, so to small for very large breads). If I am correct it was used on the field so you can hold and cut the bread in your hands, no need to put it down.

The handle is not shrunk, it just like you see in the picture.

7th February 2013, 01:21 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	I would say Fernando K drawing is correct. . Attached Images

7th February 2013, 04:34 AM	#1
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello, Nifty tool. Fernando K, the knife would be held the reverse way, the metal support resting on the top of the arm, not the bottom, and with the edge of the blade is on the concave side. Regards, Emanuel

8th February 2013, 07:53 AM	#3
TimW Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 54	Fernando is right. I guess the handle has shrunk a bit and normally covered the entire tang. Imagine somebody holding the big loaf of bread against the chest with the left arm (almost hugging the bread); holding the knife in the right hand, the support touching the outside part of the lower arm. Cutting slices in a pulling direction, cutting towards the body. This piece is very intriguing: simple and rather roughly manufactured (no fancy details - just form and function) but very efficient. And important in daily life! Regarding dimensions: the blade is approx 2 mm thick (thin - for good slicing), convex grind, but rather flat and 27 cm long. The handle is 11 cm (wooden part); 18 cm between the end of the handle and the U shape.

8th February 2013, 10:19 AM	#4
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	When I was very young (sixties) my grandmother had such a knife for cutting bread, not the large farmers bread but the normal size (the size of the blade was just like a normal bread knife, so to small for very large breads). If I am correct it was used on the field so you can hold and cut the bread in your hands, no need to put it down. The handle is not shrunk, it just like you see in the picture.