Wooden Knife

mark clausen · December 21, 2015, 11:35 AM

[IMG]

[/IMG]A friend showed me this asking my opinion on what it is so naturally I came here. It is wood, the varnish is separated but not flaking off. The tip is painted as if it is in a sheath maybe. Odd shaped handle. The number on it is 1905 or 6 or 8 hard to tell. Maybe it's a date. We are thinking some sort of a training weapon. Maybe just an old toy. Thanks.

Clock · December 21, 2015, 01:51 PM

It could be a movie or play prop. I've seen a few wooden swords & axes that were made as props. You could take it to Architectural Artifacts on North Ravenswood and get a better idea.

mete · December 21, 2015, 06:55 PM

Italians make wooden knives - to slice polenta !! The ones made of olive wood are beautiful !

gyvel · December 21, 2015, 09:18 PM

It does bear a passing resemblance to a WWI trench knife.

hartcreek · December 21, 2015, 09:57 PM

hmmm I bet one made out of iron wood would have a durable edge too.

mark clausen · December 21, 2015, 10:32 PM

So I googled WW1 trench knife and it does resemble a WW1 trench knife, without the fearsome knuckles though.

g.willikers · December 22, 2015, 12:18 PM

Movie props are usually made of rubber and such.
Wood would still be dangerous in inexperienced hands.
Might be a training tool, though.
Or maybe made as a tourist item.
It would look good as a wall display along with a replica blunderbuss, whatever it is.

James K · December 22, 2015, 07:39 PM

Movie props are more realistic looking as are training weapons. I think it is something made by a youngster for game playing.

Jim

michaelcj · December 22, 2015, 07:48 PM

Could it be someone's "custom made" fid for splicing rope taking inspiration from the "trench knife"?

mark clausen · December 22, 2015, 08:52 PM

I don't think it is a fid, or marlin spike due to the shape. Jim K, seems a little nice for something made by kids, but with a little help from dad, yeah i can see it. I grew up with a family wood shop and old guys who could have easily made that.

RJay · December 22, 2015, 09:36 PM

Not a toy, movie prop or training aid ( I don't think ) however it would not look out of place as a stage prop.

gyvel · December 22, 2015, 10:19 PM

I can't tell if the "1905" is stamped into the wood or raised, but it's definitely too slick for a homemade kid's toy.

mark clausen · December 22, 2015, 11:06 PM

It's raised.

MikeG · December 23, 2015, 02:42 AM

Could it be a trainer for the trench knife?

gyvel · December 23, 2015, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Could it be a trainer for the trench knife?

Ain't speculation great? It could be a trainer of some sort, OR... it could also be some kind of kid's toy modeled after an actual U.S. fighting knife from the early 20th century when there were no safety regulations for toys.

Edit: The fact that "1905" is raised tells me that the wood was formed under (probably) pressure and steam in a mold of some sort

RJay · December 23, 2015, 10:38 AM

Dog darn it, I've seen or seen photos of that Identical knife before, but where and when. Now that will be in the back of my mind until I remember..

mark clausen · December 23, 2015, 11:02 PM

Think man think! Do you understand how important this is?

gyvel · December 24, 2015, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Think man think! Do you understand how important this is?

It could be possible. You might actually have some kind of "treasure" there.

I've done a few searches and all I've come with are hits about the U.S. 1918 trench knife. I still kind of suspect that it was some kind of early 20th century kid's toy before OSHA. LOL

Hold it! Hold it!! Stop the music! It's probably a novelty letter opener; Don't know why that didn't occur to me in the first place.

mark clausen · December 24, 2015, 10:06 AM

A letter opener! That makes as much or more sense as anything else. Whew now I can sleep

Really though thanks. I'm gonna see this fellow today, (my sister's beau) and I know he will ask if I found anything out. Merry Christmas everyone.

Model12Win · December 26, 2015, 07:46 PM

Quote:

It could be possible. You might actually have some kind of "treasure" there.

TRAY-ZURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I too, am wondering about this strange wooden knife.

Armed_Chicagoan · December 26, 2015, 09:03 PM

I'm wondering if it's not a knife, but a peg of some sort?

James K · December 27, 2015, 02:01 AM

I did think of that, but I think the handle and guard are too obviously like a knife. A rope peg or something like that would probably just have a round hole.

Jim

johnwilliamson062 · December 28, 2015, 09:30 AM

I think it is a toy. Pressed wood with varnish wouldn't be out of place for a toy at that time.
Movie props are rubber now, but 110 years ago they likely were not. Watch a few silents and you will notice many were not any better than common stage props.
The films of the Maine exploding in 1988 were supposedly mostly shot with crudely carved blocks of wood in bathtubs, although I don't think any actual footage survives today.

**44 AMP** · December 29, 2015, 11:43 AM

Quote:

but I think the handle and guard are too obviously like a knife.

Toy, likely. To me, the handle is not very "knifelike", as the gripping handle is not in line with the "blade".

I think it likely that it was not a purpose made toy, originally. I can easily see where it could have been a pin, or peg, or a handle from some piece of machinery, made into a toy or a letter opener later by someone carving down the shaft to resemble a sheath / scabbard, complete with paint & varnish.

**Mike Irwin** · December 31, 2015, 06:24 AM

Letter opener?

December 21, 2015, 11:35 AM	#1
mark clausen Member Join Date: January 17, 2011 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 79	Wooden Knife [IMG][/IMG]A friend showed me this asking my opinion on what it is so naturally I came here. It is wood, the varnish is separated but not flaking off. The tip is painted as if it is in a sheath maybe. Odd shaped handle. The number on it is 1905 or 6 or 8 hard to tell. Maybe it's a date. We are thinking some sort of a training weapon. Maybe just an old toy. Thanks.

December 21, 2015, 06:55 PM	#3
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Italians make wooden knives - to slice polenta !! The ones made of olive wood are beautiful ! __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

December 21, 2015, 09:18 PM	#4
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	It does bear a passing resemblance to a WWI trench knife. __________________ As always, YMMV. __________________________________________ MIIAA SIFE

December 22, 2015, 12:18 PM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Movie props are usually made of rubber and such. Wood would still be dangerous in inexperienced hands. Might be a training tool, though. Or maybe made as a tourist item. It would look good as a wall display along with a replica blunderbuss, whatever it is. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

December 22, 2015, 09:36 PM	#11
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	Not a toy, movie prop or training aid ( I don't think ) however it would not look out of place as a stage prop. __________________ Ron James

December 21, 2015, 01:51 PM	#2
Clock Member Join Date: November 29, 2015 Posts: 77	It could be a movie or play prop. I've seen a few wooden swords & axes that were made as props. You could take it to Architectural Artifacts on North Ravenswood and get a better idea.

December 21, 2015, 09:57 PM	#5
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	hmmm I bet one made out of iron wood would have a durable edge too.

December 21, 2015, 10:32 PM	#6
mark clausen Member Join Date: January 17, 2011 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 79	So I googled WW1 trench knife and it does resemble a WW1 trench knife, without the fearsome knuckles though.

December 22, 2015, 07:39 PM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Movie props are more realistic looking as are training weapons. I think it is something made by a youngster for game playing. Jim

December 22, 2015, 07:48 PM	#9
michaelcj Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2011 Location: Lopez Island, WA Posts: 279	Could it be someone's "custom made" fid for splicing rope taking inspiration from the "trench knife"?

December 22, 2015, 08:52 PM	#10
mark clausen Member Join Date: January 17, 2011 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 79	I don't think it is a fid, or marlin spike due to the shape. Jim K, seems a little nice for something made by kids, but with a little help from dad, yeah i can see it. I grew up with a family wood shop and old guys who could have easily made that.

December 22, 2015, 10:19 PM	#12
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	I can't tell if the "1905" is stamped into the wood or raised, but it's definitely too slick for a homemade kid's toy. __________________ As always, YMMV. __________________________________________ MIIAA SIFE Last edited by gyvel; December 23, 2015 at 04:08 AM.

December 22, 2015, 11:06 PM	#13
mark clausen Member Join Date: January 17, 2011 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 79	It's raised.

December 23, 2015, 02:42 AM	#14
MikeG Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2002 Location: Falcon Colorado Posts: 256	Could it be a trainer for the trench knife?

December 23, 2015, 10:38 AM	#16
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	Dog darn it, I've seen or seen photos of that Identical knife before, but where and when. Now that will be in the back of my mind until I remember.. __________________ Ron James

December 23, 2015, 11:02 PM	#17
mark clausen Member Join Date: January 17, 2011 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 79	Think man think! Do you understand how important this is?

December 24, 2015, 10:06 AM	#19
mark clausen Member Join Date: January 17, 2011 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 79	A letter opener! That makes as much or more sense as anything else. Whew now I can sleep Really though thanks. I'm gonna see this fellow today, (my sister's beau) and I know he will ask if I found anything out. Merry Christmas everyone.

December 26, 2015, 09:03 PM	#21
Armed_Chicagoan Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2013 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 776	I'm wondering if it's not a knife, but a peg of some sort?

December 27, 2015, 02:01 AM	#22
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I did think of that, but I think the handle and guard are too obviously like a knife. A rope peg or something like that would probably just have a round hole. Jim

December 28, 2015, 09:30 AM	#23
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	I think it is a toy. Pressed wood with varnish wouldn't be out of place for a toy at that time. Movie props are rubber now, but 110 years ago they likely were not. Watch a few silents and you will notice many were not any better than common stage props. The films of the Maine exploding in 1988 were supposedly mostly shot with crudely carved blocks of wood in bathtubs, although I don't think any actual footage survives today.

December 31, 2015, 06:24 AM	#25
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Letter opener? __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.