I don’t like making museum copies as a rule for the simple reason that they take a great deal longer to make and are therefore more expensive as every detail has to right, so I make pieces using the design, construction, decoration, materials and proportions that were in use at the time – as best I can. This means that I neither intend to have or can have direct reference for any item I make (but I do have a large library). I try to make my knives similar to those made in the old days so that a cutler 500 years ago would pick it up and think “yeah I like that”, no more and no less. The knives I make I would describe on the whole to be well made knives for the lower to mid classes so high levels of decoration of either the handle or blade are generally not what I do.

There are inaccuracies in some of the things I make because some people want that and unfortunately commerce does have to rear its head some times. For example people now almost always want double edged blades, these were more expensive to make and so were rarer on the cheaper knives such as baselards, bollock daggers and to some extent rondels. I make single sided ones (ie correct) but more people want the incorrect ones. I make penknives (I believe the research to be correct) and these generally have a double grind on them (which they should not) but people do not understand a single grind for a knife and don’t buy them. I fit frogs so that the knife is secure, as in this litigious age that is what people want; the scabbard is removable so they can be hung by a thong if that is desired. Etc etc etc.

I try to get my research right but in honesty anyone who says they know it all is wrong.

As far as I know……….

Prickers were found as part of the eating irons found as by knives in the 15th century onwards. Multiple knife sets were common and I simply extended this principle to a cutlery set in a single scabbard, as I say I make things in the style of…

My axes are Gransfors as they are excellent and historically pretty accurate. I remove the gransfors branding from the handle as it is not compatible for reenactors, however I supply them with a handmade scabbard.

The buckles are originals, sometimes they come with a buckle plate and sometimes not. I stitch them on when they have no plate as I do not wish to add modern parts to an old object, but I disagree when you say they were never stitched on, look at the MoL dress accessories and York finds book.

Ricassos were rare in the medieval period but as far as I know there and to be honest not many of my early knives have them.

I think this pretty much answers most of it. I am open about my business, products and research and will help as best I can with questions or requests and will never knowingly mislead anyone, but we are all human so I am sure there are mistakes, well that’s life. However I will always recommend or advise what is right or wrong and highlight if I think things are inappropriate or if the level of authenticity of that piece is wrong for what I know of that person – there are millions of re-enactors out there with just as many priorities as to kit costs verses authenticity. If being on the far side of authentic is what you are after I always have some really, really right items.

And on a last point I try to make my stuff as authentic as I can within the bounds of commerce but I would rather die than use a pop rivet or any other thing like that.

Sorry for the essay and thanks to my supporters, particularly Martin and Jens, I generally don’t go to these sites so it is refreshing to see at least I am being talked about and your comments are always welcome and useful as we all try to strive to do better.

Regards Tod

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