Who wants a 1700 year old folding knife?

not2sharp

not2sharp

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Jun 29, 1999
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No, I don't have one for trade. (Yet) :)

But, perhaps some of you have seen James Ayres article in the latest issue of Blade Magazine (January 2003). His column, Edges: Inside World Knife Collecting & Investing No.92, is subtitled "Unearth Folder from 400 AD," this month. It features a story and pictures of a Ivory mounted folding knife that proportedly should be considered a "discovery of a lifetime".

Frankly, I found myself giggling through the entire article. Not only do the photos show a knife in impossibly good condition. But, it shows the author handling this precious artifact with his bare hands. If that doesn't quite do it for you, you might appreciate that although the story suggest that the knife may have turned up in Colon Germany, there is absolutely no mention of the circumstances by which it was discovered. Nor are their any comments on what means may have actually been used to date the item.

Now, I'll level with you. I have a good idea where that knife was found. It was probably purchased on EBAY. Why just this year there have probably been thousands of ancient relics on there. Most of them just as poorly documented and in similar remarkable condition.

I was more then a little disappointed by the article. I had read it with great interest, hopping to discover some new and magical means by which to preserve my knives, so I am sure you understand my disappointment.

It is stories like this one that really allow me to appreciate our little online community.

n2s
 
The oldest "knife" found so far is estimated to be 2.4 million years old...the one yore talking about is a newbie...
 
N2S - I'm with you on this one...except the eBay part...:D

I've never been able to handle museum pieces with my bare hands. You would always have on thin cotton gloves at the very minimum. Oily hands make for quick disintegration. Not only did that photo do disservice to the author and the artifact, but it certainly encouraged hundreds of others who would not handle future artifacts with care.

Let's just put it this way:

In September I was at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC going through the Ancient Egypt: Quest for Immortality exhibit. I was guiding my art history class through the first part of the tour. We stopped at a statue that was freestanding and unprotected (no plexiglass). The class had many questions and I begin to point out the different elements of the work when one of the guards (there were guards at every piece) nearly tackled me to the ground in fear that I had touched the statue - which was large and made of stone (not small and fragile like a knife). I do not fault him for what he did. I would have done the same.

It's not a priviledge (as stated by the author) to hold such relics in your hand - it is a dishonor to science and archaelogy. There will come a time when the authenticity of these pieces will diminish beyond recognition because of our laziness in caring for them.

If the artifact is indeed what they purport it to be, then it is shameful how they treated it (thankfully they did not try to open it).

If the artifact is not veritable, then shame on Blade for not researching it further before publishing it.

I, too, was very disappointed when I read that article. I had hoped for multiple sources of independent verification of its authenticity as well as certification from at least a handful of period experts. Surely, as a museum piece, it would have passed through a good year's worth of study and analysis before anybody "decided" it was authentic. Think about the "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" ossuary. It went through rigorous study before it's origin was announced.

This knife should have received the same attention. Instead, all we got was a flamboyant write-up that will only serve to heighten that "treasure-hunter" instinct instead of set the milestone for the invention and creation of folding knives in ancient history.
 
Have I told you about the 50,000 year old khukuri I dug up in the back yard in Nepal? I'm only asking one million dollars for it -- bargain.
 
The oldest "knife" found so far is estimated to be 2.4 million years old...the one yore talking about is a newbie...
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All too true. Knives, especially those made of stone, have been found everywhere that man has been. It is unusual though to find ancient knives with organic handles and iron blades. Both materials tend to decompose rapidly and, even under the best conditions, it is rare that anything at all is left after 300 years.

A few older relics have been found in river beds and bogs. Places where the natural conditions helped to reduce the process of oxidation. But, even so the knives are almost always incomplete and heavily oxidized.

The knife shown in the blade article still has straight sharp edges. Nature hates straight lines. Not only is the knife in excellent condition, it doesn't even look like it was heavily used.

n2s
 
My 50,000 year old khukuri looks just like new. I think that is because of the dry, arid climate one finds in Nepal.
 
Or may be its the dry humor on Bladeforums that keeps it so well! Which reminds me: I know that we basic mambers not supposed to sell knives here but let me just mention that if in 1 million years you'd like to own a genuine antique please contact me for prices and shipping costs. Oh let's not forget the Certificate of Authenticity available for only a little extra and suitable for framing!

heh
 
My 50,000 year old khukuri looks just like new.
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Ohhhhh... could you post a picture?

I think I came across one of those on Ebay. That one was stamped "INDIA".

n2s
 
Originally posted by not2sharp
Ohhhhh... could you post a picture?

I think I came across one of those on Ebay. That one was stamped "INDIA".

n2s
Click to expand...

I've got one of those, it came with two antique AGUES. Perfect for gapping the sparkplugs on my '88 Ford pickup. :rolleyes:
 
I don't know if the dust bunnies will let go of that one long enough to get pix but I'll ask them. They hate Titanic II -- had the carpets steam cleaned before we moved and there is not enough dust for them -- but give me time.
 
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