Medieval eating awl made of stainless steel, hand-forged

In the Middle Ages, the eating awl primarily served to spear food and thus functioned as a precursor to the modern fork. The actual fork at that time was mostly used only to hold meat during carving. The modern stainless steel version offers the advantage over historical iron models of being rustproof, food-safe, and significantly easier to care for, as it requires no special corrosion protection treatment.

A hand-forged stainless steel eating awl should be cleaned regularly with warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft sponge to remove limescale and food residue. To maintain its shine and prevent streaks, a paste of baking soda and water or a little white vinegar can be used for limescale stains. Cleaning in the dishwasher should be avoided, as the chemical composition of the detergents can promote surface rust. Furthermore, abrasive materials such as steel wool or chlorine-based cleaners should not be used to avoid damaging the material's protective passive layer.

The hand-forged eating awl is made entirely of stainless steel, including the handle. A matching leather sheath for safe transport is included.

This hand-forged stainless steel eating awl has a total length of approximately 22 cm. Unlike modern forks with multiple tines or flat knife blades, it consists of a single, pointed needle, which was used in the Middle Ages for spearing food, and features a characteristic twisted handle design with a forged loop at the end.