Penannular brooches and the like

**Woodsheal** · 22nd June 07, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by JRB

Brian, are there historical examples of bodkins longer than a couple of inches? I had a blacksmith make me a bodkin several years ago and it is quite long (maybe 7.5"). Is that entirely outside of historic perameters?
If so it would be easy to take to my shop and grind down to a more suitable size.

I don't know if it's historically too long, but it seems practically too long. I used a longer pin for awhile - about 5 inches - and I was constantly catching things on it (like my sword hilt), and stabbing my hand...!

**JRB** · 22nd June 07, 03:23 PM

I haven't had too many problems accidentally impaling things. Still, after seeing how short bodkins can be, I'm going to grind some length off a bit.

**gilmore** · 29th June 07, 08:35 PM

Is this the same as Hamlet's bare bodkin? If so, how does one go about making a quietus with it?

**Mr. MacDougall** · 30th June 07, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by gilmore

Is this the same as Hamlet's bare bodkin? If so, how does one go about making a quietus with it?

Hamlet's bodkin is a knife, and one would make quietus with it by using it to end one's life. He's contemplating suicide in the solequy. (I know I misspelled that, but I'm too lazy to look up the proper spelling just now).

**MacWage** · 4th August 07, 08:53 PM

I was at my favorite reenactment supply/fabric store (96 District Storehouse in Abbeville, SC) today to stock up on material for cadadh/hose and some stuff to make flashes for a wedding next Sat. PLUS, I got material to make a 5x6 or 6x7 foot (or so) Scottish saltaire (historic remnants from the Jacobite era were sometimes square or almost so-> plus 2 yards costs less than 3 and results in enough less sewing to make my arm and hand happy). NOW, I will have "natural white" worsted wool ones, as well as some ones in my favorite yellow in woven cotton ribbon! (YEAH!!!!)

They also had some bone bodkins for $4 each. they are 3 inches long, with a 7/8 inch "head." The head is also about 3/16 in diameter and made of 3 spheres and 2 "diamond" shapes (from "hilt" to tip). The other 2 1/8 inches are a gradiated cone shape, like the ones earlier in this thread.