(a) Amputation knife, which consists of a straight, long, thin blade with a rounded back, very sharp pointed tip and thin, sharp cutting edge; the knife blade goes into a long, rounded ebony handle that has cross-hatched gripping incisions carved into the wood of the front, back and sides; the outeā¦
(a) Amputation knife, which consists of a straight, long, thin blade with a rounded back, very sharp pointed tip and thin, sharp cutting edge; the knife blade goes into a long, rounded ebony handle that has cross-hatched gripping incisions carved into the wood of the front, back and sides; the outer end is rounded; the knife is stored in a leather sheath (b); the sheath is made of two pieces of leather cut into the shape and length of the blade and sewn together with the bottom left open so that it can be put on or taken off the knife blade.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - amputation knife - Size: Length 36.6 cm x Width 1.9 cm x Depth 1.2 cm
b - leather sheath - Size: Length 26.8 cm x Width 3.0 cm x Depth 1.2 cm
Provenance
Originally owned and used by Dr. B. N. Kropp; collected by Dr. A. A. Travill for the Queen's University Faculty of Medicine Collection.
(a) One side of the blade has the words, "J. GRAY & SON // SHEFFIELD" stamped into the metal just above the handle.
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E1-3
Condition Remarks
The metal shows some wear and minor staining; no corrosion is visible; the wooden handle shows minor wear; the wood has a 5 cm-long crack on one side, close to the blade; the leather is complete, unstained, and flexible.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Book
Reference Comments
Faculty of Medicine Collection 1984 Inventory; "A Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War Medical Instruments and Equipment," Vol. I, by Dr. Gordon Dammann, 1983, p. 14 (item #20); "Antique Medical Instruments," by C. Keith Wilbur, M.D., 1987, p. 126; came in instrument roll 997.001.414 with 6 other amputation knives (997.001.416-.421)