https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/templates/general_wide/img/logo.png UKDFD Recording Software https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ Knives and knife end-stops https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops.html Knife Handle https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-handle-58968.html Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:09:44 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife Handle  
Description: A figurative whittle tang knife handle dating to the early post-medieval period. The figure depicted is uncertain, but possibly resembles a tonsured monk in draped habit with cowl resting on his shoulders. The arms are held to the front of the waist with clasped hands, or possibly holding something like rolled parchment. The facial features are now worn, but the hair is more clearly defined with an unusual domed moulding to each side of the head. The robe below the waist is plain and slender, and extends to cover the feet of the figure at the base of the handle. The base is heavily corroded with the deposits of the iron blade, the tang of which extends through the hollow handle and projects from the head of the figure. Traces of gilding are present, particularly around the arms and drapery.

See notable handles recorded on PAS; particularly CORN-106C91, which describes the figurine as a high status male wearing period style hat. Also, WMID-91D8C1, a very similar figure described as a monk in habit. 
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
]]> Knife End-Stop (Terminal) https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-end-stop-terminal-58624.html Wed, 14 May 2025 18:32:17 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife End-Stop (Terminal)  
Description: An end-stop with a rounded bifurcate top from the handle of a cutlery knife. The form of the object suggests that it is modelled on two conjoined horse-hooves with horseshoes fitted. The thickness of the shoes is represented by moulded circumferential grooves, and their nail-holes by indented dots on the two end faces. Remains of the iron scale tang are present in the slotted base.

A single-hoof type of comparable form is also known (e.g. UKDFD 136).

 
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
]]> Knife End-Stop https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-end-stop-58486.html Sun, 09 Mar 2025 16:32:58 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife End-Stop  
Description: A cast copper-alloy end-stop from the handle of an early post-medieval scale-tang cutlery knife. The end-stop is moulded in the form of a serpent's head rising from what is probably intended to represent its coiled body. The latter portion forms the bulk of the casting and is of flattened sub-oval cross-section with slight circumferential ribbing to suggest the body coils. The base of the end-stop is centrally slotted along the major axis and retains corroded remains of the knife's iron tang.

Although knife end-stops of generally similar type are fairly common metal-detecting finds, this particular serpentine form would seem to be quite rare.
 
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
]]> Knife Handle https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-handle-15790.html Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife Handle  
Description: The incomplete copper-alloy side-plate of an inscribed post-medieval knife handle. The remaining part of the inscription, which is moulded in relief, reads [ ] MAKE YOU BLE[ ].
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
]]> Knife https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-57764.html Wed, 27 Dec 2023 20:12:04 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife  
Description: An eighteenth century inscribed copper-alloy knife with the corroded remains of a steel blade. The inscription on one side of the handle reads SUCCESS TO THE [crown motif], and that on the other side, AMERICAN FORCES. The inscriptions are moulded in relief and refer to the British colonial forces in America fighting the French forces during the French and Indian War, part of the Seven Years' War of 1756-1763.

See also UKDFD 34504 and UKDFD 48214.

Note
The two sides of a similar handle illustrated on page 87 of Artifacts of the British Armies in Fort Edward and Lake George by David R. Starbuck are described as razor handles, but the inscription on a closely related example (UKDFD 4184) supports identification as a knife. Another similar example, recorded as British Museum No. 1895,0603.8, clearly has a folding blade, and the BM comments that "These knives would have been sold as commemoratives... to whomever wished to buy one."  The shape of the blade on the BM example is that of a cutlery (table/dessert) knife.
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
]]> Knife End-Stop https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-end-stop-57733.html Thu, 16 Nov 2023 21:54:26 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife End-Stop  
Description: A decorative knife end-stop (wooden handle cap) dating to the early post-medieval period. The cap has been formed from sheet metal and soldered into a hexagonal-shaped body with a separate solid top and open base. On one side, the top end flares outwards in plan view, and each rectangular panel has been embellished with incised decoration. The corroded remains of the blades iron tang protrude from the base, and vestigial remains of a tinned surface finish and a singular soldered seam are visible.

Although the applied decoration is worn, it is of a known and documented type, possibly with European origins, engraved with figurative iconography suggested to be that of saints. This is based upon examples of late medieval iconographic finger rings; UKDFD 8101. Each cap having in common vertical figure(s) on two opposing panels, with more simplistic linear patterns between. The top of this cap is also decorated with what appears to be an 'O'-shaped motif. See NLM-409284, BH-9B5EC1, NLM-1255EC & LON-908D49 as similar examples.
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
]]> Knife End-Stop https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-end-stop-57592.html Tue, 12 Sep 2023 13:28:43 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife End-Stop  
Description: A sub-cylindrical copper-alloy end-stop from the handle of an early post-medieval scale-tang knife. The cap has been fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal, cut and shaped with two longitudinal seams. Each side has been decorated with an indented saltire, and the oval-shaped top with a six-pointed star. A copper-alloy rivet remains in situ for attachment purposes.

It would appear that knife end-stops of this form were either solidly cast with a purposeful 'slot' at the base for direct fixing onto the terminal end of the iron tang; UKDFD 30471 & SUR-B5B860, whilst others have been fabricated from sheet-metal to create a hollow 'cap', which was then secured over both scales and hidden tang via rivet; NMS-0447A3 & NMS-A08D89.
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
]]> Knife Handle https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-handle-57477.html Tue, 01 Aug 2023 13:37:36 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife Handle  
Description: The terminal end of a post medieval lead-alloy or pewter pistol grip knife handle with high-relief floral decoration.
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
]]> Knife End-Stop https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-end-stop-57303.html Mon, 10 Apr 2023 18:00:38 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife End-Stop  
Description: An end-stop with a rounded bifurcate top from the handle of a cutlery knife. The form of the object suggests that it is modelled on two conjoined horse-hooves with horseshoes fitted. The thickness of the shoes is represented by moulded circumferential grooves. This type of end-stop usually had indented dots on the upper surfaces representing nail holes. Remains of the iron scale tang are present in the slotted base.
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
]]> Knife Handle https://www.ukdfd.co.uk/artefact/post-medieval-to-modern/knives-and-knife-end-stops/knife-handle-56139.html Tue, 29 Jun 2021 14:00:44 GMT Knives and knife end-stops Knife Handle  
Description: A copper-alloy whittle-tang knife handle of the early post-medieval period. The handle is cast in the form of a classical female figure standing, the upper torso naked and the arms truncated. Drapery tied at the hips of the figure tapers into a plain rectangular-section pillar, which has the open end of a cored hole at its base. The hole would originally have housed the tang of the iron blade, but no trace of this survives.

Cf. PAS: NMS-9E4795
Category: Post-Medieval to Modern, Knives and knife end-stops
Category: Knives and knife end-stops
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