uncommon belgian bread knife with arm support

[TimW]

I recently acquired a rather intriguing knife. It is an old belgian bread knife of crude but skilled manufacture.

The knife has a thin convex blade and a full tang construction. The handle is probably ash. The funniest of all is the arm rest. When using, the cutting edge is oriented towards the user; the big farmer breads are usually held against the chest.

What is interesting is the way the knife was made: steel seems to be laminated (old steel with plenty of impurities); different pieces are forge welded together (just behind the handle, just in front of the u shape & attachment of the u shape to the knife tang).

Age? I guess somewhere between 1850 - 1900.

Enjoy!

tim

[colin henshaw]

Very interesting - I like these primitive items - has great character...

[fernando]

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Very interesting - I like these primitive items - has great character...

Yes, an exquisite specimen indeed .

[Jim McDougall]

These unusual old sword type implements are pretty interesting., winder what its for.

[junker]

Just a guess.
Maybe a knive for one who lost his hand, when it is fastened to the lower arm.
There were plenty of those items after WW1.
But I think the handle would have been removed if it one ot that kind.

Dirk

[fernando]

Originally Posted by junker

Just a guess.
Maybe a knive for one who lost his hand, when it is fastened to the lower arm...

Humm ... unlikely (see my profile). I don't see much praticality in that. Besides, prothesis and other straping devices are only word to put up on a permanent basis, not for ephemerous tasks.
On the other hand, that arm 'rest' is well placed as a stopper to back the effort you would have to make to cut something hard ... very dense bread, following tim's mention; otherwise something harder .