3rd-4th century AD. A bone and iron folding hunting knife (culter venatorius), the handle with an openwork representation of a mating scene between dogs, allowing the insertion of the short iron blade, the folding blade pivoted in the bone openwork handle. See Allason-Jones, L. & Miket, R. ,The Catalogue of Small Finds from South Shields Roman Fort, Newcastle, 1984, item 5.1 for type. 22.8 grams, 62mm (2 1/2"). Property of a South London collector; previously acquired on the European art market 1970-1980. Knives for hunting were generally made with the bronze or bone handles and iron blades, they could be straight, folding, or with swiveling handles. Small knives like our specimens were mainly used in hunting duties.