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Ancient Roman "Swiss Army Knife"


Subdeacon Joe

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https://stanflouride.com/2015/01/02/a-roman-multi-tool/amp/

 

 

Long before there were Swiss Army Knives, Leatherman multi-tools, or Boy Scout mess kit pocket knives, the Romans were fashioning them out of silver and iron:Screen Shot 2014-12-28 at 10.25.09 PM Screen Shot 2014-12-28 at 10.25.32 PM Screen Shot 2014-12-28 at 10.25.52 PM

 

This one is in the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge, UK.
Here is its description:

Title:

Roman “Swiss Army Knife”

Category:

tool/implement

Name: compound utensil

Date: 201  300 CE

Period: Middle Roman

Description: eating implement, folding, with three-pronged fork, spatula, pick, spike and knife.

Production
Place (legacy): Mediterranean, production, region

Materials: knife: iron; other tools: silver

Dimensionsheight: 88 mm [3.5″]   width: 155 mm [6″]

The Fitzwilliam Museum has a large online gallery:
http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

FB_IMG_1645582388580.jpg

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Description: eating implement, folding, with three-pronged fork, spatula, pick, spike and knife.
 

That little knife blade is for removing the rind from fruit. That thing they call a spatula? Sure looks like a spoon to me. 

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7 hours ago, Pat Riot, SASS #13748 said:

Description: eating implement, folding, with three-pronged fork, spatula, pick, spike and knife.
 

That little knife blade is for removing the rind from fruit. That thing they call a spatula? Sure looks like a spoon to me. 

So instead of making a, 'spork', the Romans made a, 'spoontula'.

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The spike is a toothpick and awl, the little scoopy  thing is for cleaning your earwax. 

 

I have seen small Spanish gentleman's tools like this.

 

That is cool and took some craftsmanship

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I've been examining the picture. That thing sticking out to the left must be what they are calling a spatula, and I agree that's a spoon. At the other end you got the spike, and you got the ear wax scoop :blink: And then there's that curved pointed thing.

 

That's the knife?

 

Now up at the top there is a brown rectangular thingy. What the heck is that? I thought possibly it was the knife, and they could not get the blade to unfold.

 

Whatever it is, it appears that some of it has corroded away.

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53 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Now up at the top there is a brown rectangular thingy. What the heck is that? I thought possibly it was the knife, and they could not get the blade to unfold

 

That is what is left of the rusted away knife blade 

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30 minutes ago, Alpo said:

So what is the little curvy pointed thing?

 

1849173144_screen-shot-2014-12-28-at-10-25-52-pm2.png.ebef6889ef72b27268e2318355e954fc.png

 

A little, curvy, pointed thing! :D

 

Might be for getting the meat out of crab, lobster, or snails.   Could also use it to hook meat to flip it on a griddle.

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