Halfmoon knife

identifier

ID 691
morphology

craft

craft

craft

craft

holotype

MOT V 88.0718 L=20,5cm WD=20,5cm WT=300gr. Inscription: BLANCHARD A PARIS image greyhound.

alias

saddler's half-round knife (syn.)

alias

half-circle knife (syn.)

alias

stake knife (syn.)
description

The halfmoon knife is used by leatherworkers and in particular by the saddler, to cut rigid leather to size.

It has a semicircular blade (approx. 20 cm) and a straight handle attached exactly above the center of the blade. With the medieval halfmoon knife, the handle is horizontal to the top of the blade. You can make a long, beautiful cut with this knife, while the hand exerts full pressure force. The angle of the halfmoon knife is placed on the leather and according to the circumference of the knife, the leather is cut through on the marked line. At the end point, the knife is repositioned until the entire cut has been completed. Keeping the knife horizontal, you cut into the thickness of the leather or bevel the edge. [MOT]