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Knife Blade Styles

Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 3:04 pm
by annschweiss
Hi: My question is about Knife Blades. I recently purchased a Mother of Pearl Handle knife with a sterling ferrule. The blade is a Blunt Blade style, and I think it is silver plated. This is my question: On one side of the top of the blade there is a bevel edge starting about 1 1/2 inches from the ferrule and ending at the rounded end of the blade. What is this called and what was the purpose of this design? I have looked at all my references and on-line sources, and although I have seen many illustrations of this blade, I have not found any answer. I would appreciate any ideas you might have.
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 6:07 pm
by dognose
Hi,

The term for this feature is a 'swage'. I don't think it serves any purpose, it is just a throw-back detail from when such knives had a secondary cutting edge.

Trev.
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Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:34 pm
by annschweiss
Thanks Trev. I'm pleased to know this....I like to know as much about my pieces as I can.
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