Very interesting site about french knives. I don't remember who or where the link came from.

http://www.lanouvelle-france.com/

Gene, thanks for the link. It's got me thinking about making as ax again. Did you notice how some of the knives had a strong resemblance to a seax?

Doug Lester

Interesting reading Gene, thanks

Wow Gene: What a beauriful site. I have been looking for that kind of information for years. From what I can see the French made some very well designed knives. One of my goals is to some day put out a book on the ethnic qualites of knives, those French knives would make a great chapter and more.

That would make an interesting book, Ed.

The more I think about it, the best way would be to have individuals who have taken a special interest in knives from their chosen area and write as much as they wish about their knives of choice, then put it together into a refference book of sorts or encyclopedia of ethnic knives. I know of no one man who has a command of all, there is just too much information that should be included.

I would welcome any thoughts others have, I feel a book like this needs to be done, it sure needs to be done while there are some who remember.

Fantastic link, thanks Gene.

Ed, an interesting idea, where would you start....and when would you know where to finish? Just think of how many places have interesting knives....

Roger

It could start now, here and continue until no one had more information. Maybe best on these forms, a pictoral essay of sorts with all the history we could gather. Specialists would have to edit and agree on their chosen region or time, of voice differing opinions and let those who explore make up their own minds.

Years ago I met a man who had spent his life studying the knives of the Phillipiens, he laid more information on me off the top of his head than I could grasp. I shook his hand, took a card and naturally lost it. He said he was compileing a book that would be over a thousand pages. I think he could have sat down and written that much from memory. That is the kind of folks we need to find.

I love this idea, hope to see it happen!

It could start now, here and continue until no one had more information.

Not a bad idea at all!

For a start it would be good if someone could sit and listen to Stan Shaw for a few thousand hours and put together all the knowledge he has of the Sheffield craftsmen. He is undoubtedly the last of the littlemesters from the early part of the 20th century.

Roger