Movie Prop Knives

[hammerdownnow]

I like looking for knives in movies and tryin to track down where they came from and how they came to use them. It is not always easy or possible for me. When I saw the throwing knives Daniel Day Louis used in the throwing demo scene in Gangs Of New York, I knew exactly where the design came from. I like how the props dept. filed the blade to make it look like it was made from a rasp. The question now is, where did H&B get the pattern? Is it an old pattern, or a modern concept knife? I have been aware of the pattern for 30 years as being popular with the muzzleloading crowd. Any thoughts or ideas?

[Roger Gregory]

I forget the name of the smith who made the weapons for Gangs of New York. He posted some information and pictures over at Primal Fires. He said he made three versions of each weapon, one sharp and functional, one blunt and one that the props department could take apart.

Roger

[rhrocker]

Wonder which is the most famous prop knife of all? The one Davy used, or the one Mr. Dundee used, or what? You hit that one right on Roc, it's a horseshoers rasp lookalike for sure.

[Greg obach]

I thought it was the dude at double edge forge that did some of the knives for gangs of NY
http://www.bright.net/%7Edeforge1/Knives.html

anyhow.. i think he makes a good effort to be historically accurate....so... i bet he's probably seen examples of those....

or maybe not


http://p222.ezboard.com/fprimalfires...icID=483.topic

[Andrew Garrett]

I have been asked three times if I could make a knife like the one used by Benicio Del Toro in 'The Hunted'. I watched the movie and froze the picture stategically and have a design 'inspired by' that unique blade.

[hammerdownnow]

I been over on PF looking for that thread. Roger, if you remember where it was, send a link will ya? I plan to make one of those stacked leather Sheffield style bowie/hunters that Bill used to kill the priest and Amsterdam planned to stick Bill with. Seems like the knife changed shape several times during the movie.

Andy,We were all making those "Hunted" primatives when the movie came out. Tracked the history of them back to Dave Beck who made the original for Tom Brown. Read about the tiff they had when Brown went with Tops to make the cheapies. Now Beck cannot call them "Trackers" anymore.

[hammerdownnow]

here is a pic of two Beck trackers owned by sgteldridge.


(click4sourse)

[Shakudo]

Dennis Miles made some of the knives for "Gangs of New York". i'm not sure which of the knives he made and if he had any imput on the props. i haven't talked to dennis in a while and i'm not sure what he's up to nowdays, link posted.

http://www.bright.net/~deforge1/