Description

Probably German in origin (Otto-type) constructed from a pleasing combination of lignum vitae wood, brass and steel.

10 inch (25cm.) tenon blade with minor pitting but NO missing teeth, screwed rather than pinned to the squared (almost rectangular) bow frame. The blade tension is controlled by a brass 4 sided adjuster that would have used a round steel key. The highly stylised lignum vitae handle (almost perfectly divided into heart wood and sap wood sides) is attached to the steel frame by a turned/cast ferrule. The frame is fairly non-descript except for where it meets the blade. At this point it is filed and 5 sided. The blade tension adjuster terminates in a pleasing turned brass button. The entire instrument has been used but not abused. At some point in it’s 250 year old life it has seen humidity issues as evidenced by the blade/frame minor pitting and also from the stable shrinkage crack in the pistol grip running parallel to the heart/sapwood of the lignum vitae. The flourishes of the handle have seen a couple of minor losses but this was during it’s useable life, many moons ago (see detailed photos).