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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 5, 2019 15:48:17 GMT
I did some research already but couldn't find the reason for the notches on the back spine of my Windlass Hunter's Companion Bowie. Since it's named "Hunter's Companion" I'd guess it's something for hunting reasons. Blade catcher? Thumb rest?? Only decoration???
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Post by pellius on Aug 5, 2019 16:03:27 GMT
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Post by snowbite on Aug 5, 2019 16:04:00 GMT
An abbreviated version of these serrations. Simply for cutting rope, I reckon. Attachments:
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 5, 2019 16:21:24 GMT
Sawback was my first idea too but it works - not very well - only when using a 45° angle. They put some work into those notches, a real sawback would have been not much more.
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Post by MOK on Aug 5, 2019 17:10:02 GMT
I think they're just decorative. Filed decoration like this is not uncommon on period knives, especially Mexican and Sheffield bowie knives (the "Hunter's Companion" is also marketed as the "Sheffield Bowie").
You could argue that they add a little friction when bracing the back of the blade with your off-hand for heavier tasks, sure, but I feel like a smooth flat spine would be more comfortable, without so many pressure hot spots to chafe on your palm, and would also be very wary of actually doing this due to the proximity of the back edge...
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 5, 2019 17:18:14 GMT
I've got quite a few knives with decorative file work. These definitely aren't jimping or sawback, so they're almost definitely decorative. A big blade gets boring without it.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 5, 2019 17:21:23 GMT
True, the blade is so long that if you look along the spine it's nice to have some entertainment half the way!
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stormmaster
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I like viking/migration era swords
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Post by stormmaster on Aug 5, 2019 17:30:44 GMT
Decorative i think, way too close together to beotherwise
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 19:00:13 GMT
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Post by legacyofthesword on Aug 6, 2019 0:55:17 GMT
It's obviously to mark the number of kills made with the knife.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 6, 2019 1:05:12 GMT
Four short fights and one long...
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 6, 2019 3:46:51 GMT
It seems like the original intent was jimping but the plain slots on Andi's don't even really fill the decorative purpose for me. Filed sharp as saw teeth, they could slot branches for lashing. I dunno, the placement just seems odd for jimping, though I could easily be misinterpreting the intended grip. I could see where some additional filling would make them more effective at saw-like functions, but at that point I feel like either go all the way or don't even start. I'll happily concede they're very boring decoration, but I'm still hesitant to think them useful.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 6, 2019 6:12:16 GMT
Perhaps it's a Notchez Bowie? (Chorus: "You're out, Andi!")
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Post by MOK on Aug 6, 2019 7:47:44 GMT
I've never seen an antique one where these indentations would be sharp, though. They're usually crisply defined - because filework tends to be like that - but IME their edges are never acute enough to cut anything. The most common pattern is small notch, long notch, small notch, repeat, much like the IXIXI patterns you see on some viking age things, or the typical decoration on sgian dubh or such. But there's a lot of variation, especially at the cheaper and rougher end of the scale, and the Hunter's Companion in particular is a very, very cheap knife (IMO of very impressive quality for its price). I've seen photos of a nearly identical antique bowie, except on that one the filed notches were asymmetrical, only on one side of the blade. Four short fights and one long... Four people, one bear!
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 6, 2019 14:06:25 GMT
Morse code: _.... could mean "6" or .... "H" & - "T" fot Hunter??
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Post by Jordan Williams on Aug 8, 2019 6:46:11 GMT
Yeah, it's just decor. Not uncommon on knives. Definitely not for any purpose.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2019 12:58:45 GMT
Morse code: _.... could mean "6" or .... "H" & - "T" fot Hunter?? -.-. --.- / -.-. --.- / -.-. --.- / -.. . / -.- .- .---- --.- --- -.- .- -. -.. .. / .. ... / .-.. --- ... .. -. --. / .. -
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 8, 2019 14:20:04 GMT
--.- ... -. - -
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Zen_Hydra
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Born with a heart full of neutrality
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Aug 8, 2019 15:44:31 GMT
.. ..-. -.-- --- ..- -.-. .- -. .-. . .- -.. - .... .. ... --..-- -.-- --- ..- .- .-. . .- -. . .-. -.. .-.-.-
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2019 16:30:44 GMT
Not Wheel of Fortune got my ticket
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