Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Powder-Monkeys Knife

Robert · 11th May 2016, 08:45 PM

Hello Ausjulius, Thank you very much for your interest and thoughts on this knife's intended use. I have heard of knives and daggers with blades made from of non-ferrous metals having "spiritual qualities" and that they were kept for the exact reasons you have mentioned above. I have several in my personal collection that I think were made for just that purpose. This knife however I believe was made for a very different purpose. That being its use by artillery personal AKA "powder-monkeys when working with and around gunpowder. The term "powder-monkey" was unfortunately a rather derogatory name given to those young men and boys (though there were at times women and older men that would do this job as well) that were charged with the transporting of the gunpowder on shipboard or land from the powder-hold or magazine to the guns themselves and then helping the rest of the gun crew with the loading when they arrived. A very dangerous line of work that required speed and dexterity whether on shipboard running below deck in very cramped quarters or on land running up or down stairs or fairly long distances inside a fort delivering the powder to the gun emplacements. All this usually being done while under fire. I totally agree with you that these knives were not meant for tourists.

Best,
Robert

11th May 2016, 08:45 PM	#9
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Ausjulius, Thank you very much for your interest and thoughts on this knife's intended use. I have heard of knives and daggers with blades made from of non-ferrous metals having "spiritual qualities" and that they were kept for the exact reasons you have mentioned above. I have several in my personal collection that I think were made for just that purpose. This knife however I believe was made for a very different purpose. That being its use by artillery personal AKA "powder-monkeys when working with and around gunpowder. The term "powder-monkey" was unfortunately a rather derogatory name given to those young men and boys (though there were at times women and older men that would do this job as well) that were charged with the transporting of the gunpowder on shipboard or land from the powder-hold or magazine to the guns themselves and then helping the rest of the gun crew with the loading when they arrived. A very dangerous line of work that required speed and dexterity whether on shipboard running below deck in very cramped quarters or on land running up or down stairs or fairly long distances inside a fort delivering the powder to the gun emplacements. All this usually being done while under fire. I totally agree with you that these knives were not meant for tourists. Best, Robert Last edited by Robert; 11th May 2016 at 09:04 PM.