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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Admiral Grindall's knife and fork
Sir Richard Grindall (1751-1820) was a captain and later a Vice-Admiral in the British Royal Navy. He began his career sailing with Captain Cook on Cook’s second voyage (1772-75). Grindall lost his right arm in action in 1795 during fighting in the French Revolutionary War. He used this combined knife and fork to eat.
The loss of his arm did not stop Grindall serving in the navy – he later fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 under Lord Nelson. Curiously, Nelson also had a combined knife and fork tool named after him. The so-called Nelson knife was used by generations of one armed ex-servicemen and is still available today.
Details
- Category:
- Orthopaedics
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A70743
- Materials:
- whole, steel and ivory
- Measurements:
-
overall: 18 mm x 300 mm x 36 mm, .1kg
- type:
- combined knife and fork
- credit:
- Braun, H C
