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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 306
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Hello All!
Here is an odd piece that has been lurking around my collection for a while. The person I bought it from said that it was a 19th. century Bulgarian folding knife from the Ottoman period, to me this seems likely because the person I bought it from was in Bulgaria but thats why I posted it here to hopefully find out more about this knife or where it really came from. Any information or comments are welcome. Mark... |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,612
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Hi Mark,
What you have is called "kundre" in Bulgaria and it was a small, folding knife that women in Bulgaria used during the 19th century, and probably before that. It had various applications, the most famous being cutting a newborn's umbilical cord. Overall it was a utility tool, and by no means a fighting weapon, despite that it could have some limited application in self defence. That is about it, but because you would probably ask how it was worn, well, it was worn on a string underneath the skirts. That is waht the ring is for. Regards, Teodor |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Athens Greece
Posts: 479
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I agree with TVV but I have to add few words. This is also a greek folding knife, with the name “sougias”. I was lucky enough to find a better example in Ebay recently.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6573941130 The blade of mine is defiantly greek, with greek words and date 1902. It is very beautiful blade with engraving and acid made black color to give this aesthetic result. There is also a mystery here because it has a hilt of bone, worked and painted in an exotic style. It is the first time I see a hilt like this. The normal hilts are wood for the common pieces or silver for the higher ones. I wish your comments about the hilt. Also if anyone here has in his collection a piece, please post it. |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Istanbul
Posts: 452
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it is a common simple farmer's tool , still used by some Turkish villagers with the name "nacak". I guess for choping and picking corn, sunflower etc. I dont know if Mike's sample is from the Ottoman period, but as the materials and shape hasnt evolved since then, it shouldnt differ so much , if antique or not. The second one probably belonged to a richer landowner looking for some difference and luxury as much as the limited village life let him.
regards |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 306
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Hello All!
Was it strickly a womens knife? So it seems this knife is widely ditributed inparts of the balkans. Very interesting, thanks every one for the information. Mark... |
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#6 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,284
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It's a fairly common style ; I'm not sure if one country alone can really claim it as originating there .
Yannis example shows a slight similarity to a navaja . |
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#7 | |
Member
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 697
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![]() Quote:
Even antique I think ( Ottoman or just post Ottoman times / early Habsburg maybe) Last edited by gp; 16th December 2022 at 08:07 AM. |
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