Thanks Luc,

Please feel free to call me Ned.

I think you are speaking of the slight indentation in the grip that is the thumb rest ? Yes, quite commmonand practical. Handle and blade are usually crafted specifically for the task the user intends, Straight baldes with straiht handles are for splinting, curved baldes with off-set handles often for hallowing-out.

The hole in the butt end of the handle was used by the carver to secure his work while he was crafting this handle. So this hole offers no clue as to the makers intention .

I personally would not add a blade. It's a fine turn of the century handle with fine carving. To add a blade would not only bastardize it, but would, I think, reduce some of it's " value " . And then the notion of what wrapping to use............ Yikes !

We will never know the intention of the maker as far as the blade and wrapping go, nor why he abandoned his project. To me that only adds to the lovely mystery of the piece.

Ned

Such an intresting knife handle, Luc. Thanks for posting.

It appears quite finely carved and well thought out and I love the offset thumb grip.

Although I am a bit puzzled by the almost anthropomorhic imagery on the top of the handle, I appreciate its artistic flourish. The carver was quite good creating such fine parallel lines and excellently rendered shallow chip carivings ( a quality I have seen in Maliseet carvings - less so in Mic - Mac )

I would love to see some photos of the end of the knife shaft where the blade was to be inset...I'm curious what the carvers intention might have been.

Thanks again and thanks everyone for posting.

I promise to be more responsive in the future !

Ned Jalbert