(a) Amputation knife, which consists of a straight, flat blade with a straight, slightly rounded back, a rounded outer tip and a straight, thin, sharp cutting edge; the blade flares out from the tip to the other end; the other end of the knife blade goes into a long, rounded ebony handle that has c…
(a) Amputation knife, which consists of a straight, flat blade with a straight, slightly rounded back, a rounded outer tip and a straight, thin, sharp cutting edge; the blade flares out from the tip to the other end; the other end of the knife blade goes into a long, rounded ebony handle that has cross-hatched gripping incisions carved into the wood of the front and back; the sides are smooth; 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 28.4 cm x Width 2.1 cm x Depth 1.0 cm
b - leather sheath - Size: Length 17.4 cm x Width 3.3 cm x Depth 0.7 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.
Dates
1860
1880
circa 1860-1880
Date Remarks
Knife type used between 1860 and 1880.
Material
metal: silver
wood: black
leather: brown
fabric: brown
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E1-3
Condition Remarks
The metal shows some wear; one side of the blade shows a fair amount of non-active corrosion; the wooden handle shows minor wear; the wood has a 6 cm-long crack on one side, close to the blade; the leather is complete, unstained, and flexible; (2): approximately 4.5-cm crack along length of handle; inactive corrosion on blade; tarnish on blade.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Reference Comments
Previous number #141; Faculty of Medicine Collection 1984 Inventory; "Antique Medical Instruments," by C. Keith Wilbur, M.D., 1987, p. 126; came in instrument roll 997.001.414 with 6 other amputation knives (997.001.415-.417, .419-.421)
Exhibit History
On display in Bracken wing Feb. 12, 2004-Feb. 2005