The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #83945   Message #1547185
Posted By: Scotus
22-Aug-05 - 01:20 PM
Thread Name: Matty Groves pocket knife query
Subject: RE: Matty Groves pocket knife query
Quite a few ballads have penknives (cf Banks o Aidrie/Fordie) - in the old days listeners would have immediately understood the clue that the bearer (of the penknife), even if purportedly a 'rank robber' (or some such) was actually someone highborn. They were the only ones who could read and write and would therefor have need of a penknife to sharpen their quills.

Cheers, Jack