Post by paranger on Jun 15, 2020 17:11:32 GMT -7
The blade measures 7.5 inches from the handle, so that is the actual working blade length. I would say the tang extends an additional 2 inches into the handle. Tough to be precise, due to the length of the slot being partially obscured by cutler's resin.
Thanks for your observations, particularly on Scottish handles and their variability: useful context for me.
I was surprised when I first learned how short handles were on 17th/18th century Scottish Highland Dirks. A good sized one ran normally not longer than around 4" and considering the pommels on them, that didn't leave much room to grip them. I've got large hands and when I grip an original, I realize I would not have been sharpening the last inch or more of the blade near the grip, or else I would have risked cutting into my "pinkie" finger at least, if not my ring finger as well. The grips/handles on Scottish Highland personal knives, carried by most common folk (even women) were also usually not longer than about 4". (Lowland Scots of this era were more "English" in tradition and did not normally carry personal knives.)
So to me at least, it seems the size grip on your knife would have been for a fellow with rather large hands in the period.
Gus
Agreed. I have medium sized hands (glove size 8) and have room to spare on the handle.