A Theory

[Gun Butcher]

I would like to propose a theory about knives and styles.

It is IMHO a recurring thing.

Blade syles and sizes, along with handle materials and decoration have been coming and going for thousands of years
Mines bigger than yours, mines prettier than yours, and mine is more useful are the things that seem to me to drive the train.
Except in a few cases the knives that where the most common and most useful simply got used up.

I know this train of thought has probably gone down the tracks many ,many times over the years but, I think its a good one to remember.

I'll get down now and post a couple of  examples from my own collection on another thread.


I would be very interested in hearing some postulation from others on this subject.

Thanks

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

If a knife is not useful, you won't have it with you when you need it.  And when you need it, you need it bad.

P.S;  Of course, "useful" is very subjective, depending on many personal and situational factors.

[KidTerico]

GB and Sir Charles great posts. KT

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[The Elderly Kid]

I think this is why so many of the Bowies we see in museums and private collections are in such pristine condition. They were popular presentation items, often with the recipient's name engraved on the escutcheon plate or even on the blade. They were never even worn, much less used, and spent their lives sitting on a desk or hanging on a wall plaque until they were no longer fashionable, then were consigned to a drawer or attic and were forgotten until descendants sold them to collectors. This is probably also why so few have their original scabbards - they were displayed without them and the scabbards got tossed away or otherwise lost. The "using" Bowies got used until they were worn out or broken. When they were no longer popular as weapons they got used as agricultural tools. Pre-20th century, most people lived on farms and big blades were always useful for farm chores.

[Delmonico]

Pretty much is the theroy I've came up with.  Not everyone was dirt poor and today folks with money often tend to buy stuff that is not always that useful.  Good example, go to Cabelas and buy everything the salesman tells you you need if yer new and are going on your first deer hunt.  My pick-up is not big enough to haul everything they'd sell you if you were willing to buy.

[GunClick Rick]

This will cut postulations all day long That's the tip of one on the right