Greek (?) Knife for ID and Comments
 

Here are pictures of a knife that belongs to a friend of mine. He thinks it may be from the Western Balkans. I am leaning towards Greece or Asia Minor. It is in rough shape (it looks like it may have been dug up), but the blade is made of sham.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you,
Teodor

I JUST RAN ACROSS THIS WHILE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND AS IT HAD NO REPLYS DECIDED TO MAKE A COMMENT. IT IS AN INTERESTING KNIFE BUT RAISES MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS FOR ME.
1. DO YOU MEAN THE BLADE IS MADE OF SOME SORT OF POT METAL AND NOT FOR ACTUAL USE? "BLADE IS MADE OF SHAM"
2. IS THE HANDLE MADE FROM SOME RESIN OR MAN MADE SUBSTANCE AS WELL OR IS IT ANTLER, IVORY OR A NATURAL MATERIAL.?
3. WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE KNIFE?
WHEN A KNIFE IS NOT MADE FOR USE IT IS USUALLY MADE FOR THEATRICAL USE, DRESS ONLY OR AS A SOUVINEER/ WALL HANGER OR LETTER OPENER. NOT A ETHINOGRAPHIC WEAPON BUT PERHAPS AN ETHINOGRAPHIC SOUVINEER. :D

WELL THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH I KNOW ABOUT WOOTZ :D THE ODD LOOK TO THE BLADE EDGES WHERE IT WAS CHIPPED AND BLACK AND THE WORD SHAM MADE ME REASON IF ITS A POOR QUALITY BLADE THEN IT IS LIKELY ALL FITTINGS WOULD BE CORESPONDINGLY POOR AND IT WOULD SERVE SOME OTHER PURPOSE THAN A WEAPON OR EVEN A KNIFE. I AM GLAD TO FIND OUT OTHERWISE. :D

Sham as used in these forums refers to a type of low contrast wootz.

Teodor

The blade looks honest and true to me. I see a ladder pattern to the wootz.

The hilt is made of bone or antler, and the length is 37cm.

Regards,
Teodor