Single-Edged Knife (Scramasax)

c. 500–700
Overall: 54.3 x 6.4 cm (21 3/8 x 2 1/2 in.)
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Location: not on view

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Description

The scramasax, a single-edged knife, was a general purpose implement. It could serve equally well as a tool or as a weapon and usually did not exceed 12 inches in length. As with most objects of the Migration period, iron weapons survive as excavated grave goods and tend to be heavily corroded. The grips, now missing, were probably fashioned from wood or bone and silver inlay decorated the pommels (the knob on the hilt, or handle). The ornamental gold foil bands, perhaps from the original scabbards (the cases in which the blades of swords or daggers are kept) have survived relatively intact.
Single-Edged Knife (Scramasax)

Single-Edged Knife (Scramasax)

c. 500–700

Merovingian, Migration period, 6th-7th Century

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