A Roman Swiss Army Knife

F

FullerH

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Nov 25, 1998
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I can't take credit for this as it has been the subject of a thread over in MyArmoury. But I thought that we coould have fun with it over here. Here is the link to the site with pictures of the thing and I shall also be trying to post a picture of it. There isa somewhat obtuse description of what the museum thinks all of the various implements were for, but I am not so certain of that.
http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/opa...html?&priref=70534&_function_=xslt&_limit_=50

The thread over at MyArmoury is:
http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=8867
 
Well, think about it. The Retiarius (Netman) gladiator used a net and a trident, which is nothing but a large fork.
 
Do any of you all have any different ideas as to just what in the heck all of those gadgets do?
 
FullerH said:
Do any of you all have any different ideas as to just what in the heck all of those gadgets do?
Click to expand...


One of the first things that came to mind for me was a farriers folding knife from the past with a fork and spoon.

Helle

FullerH thanks for posting this. I haven't seen this sweet piece of knife history before.
 
Honestly, I think it looks like a peace of crap. It doesnt look very functional to me, but I've been wrong before, and it IS a couple hundred years old, Ill give it that.
 
lol. I think it looks pretty nice, especially considering the era. I wonder if it was designed as a 'show' piece--somewhat functional, mostly made just because.

...Did the romans have mall ninjas?
 
The Romans liked showy things, you know, "baubles, bangles, and bright shiny beads" but their equipment tended to be rather practical, if very decorated. So I aassume that this thing had a practical purpose or purposes.
 
I live in Cambridge and have visited the museum . I saw this tool and was just knocked over by it . Just wonderful, I bought the postcard .
If you ever visit Cambridge visit the Anthropology museum too, lots of ancient tools and weapons .
Cheers ,
Paul.
 
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