Romanian Peasant knives

Tim Simmons · 5th May 2022, 06:13 PM

Look though my books I came across { The studio, Peasant Art In Roumania, George Oprescu, 1929 The Studio LTD 44 Leicester Square London.

Peasant is rather old fashioned I think Folk art is more Modern and the spelling of the country has also changed. I thought it a good idea to add the one photo of blades to this site. There are so many similarities to other nations knives far from Romania. Too me the most distinctive element is the scabbards . What do others see as similarities? Puuko knives?

Rich · 5th May 2022, 11:21 PM

To me (I collect Finnish puukko), the Romanian don't resemble most puukko any more than guardless knives from most everywhere. The sabbards are interesting though. thanks for posting.

Edster · 6th May 2022, 03:47 AM

This example shows a little closer to the iconic Finnish knife style. Nice design, but to me yet no cigar.

https://imgur.com/gallery/uJh6j

Ed

ariel · 6th May 2022, 02:42 PM

The only feature common to Romanian peasant knives and Finnish Puukko is the handle partially hidden in the scabbard.
But the same feature is seen in Central Asian, Afghani, Tibetan, Chinese, Buryat and likely many other utility and fighting knives. Even Caucasian shashkas use the same principle.
No cigar.

Ren Ren · 6th May 2022, 10:41 PM

I see in the photo a clear resemblance to the knives of the Ob Ugrians - Khanty and Mansi. Together with the Hungarians, they are part of the Ugric branch of the Finno-Ugric family. Before the Second World War, Romania was a multinational state - in addition to the Romanians, many Hungarians, Germans, Gypsies, Slovaks, Jews, Russians lived there. It would be good and correct to clarify in which part of Romania the ethographic material that we see in the photo was collected.

Edster · 7th May 2022, 01:22 AM

The caption of the photo says the Huniedoara District. This area has long been a major iron, tools and weapons producing area. Also, Hungarians were/are a significant minority. Knife makers of various cultural memories/expressions likely thrived there for centuries.

5th May 2022, 06:13 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Romanian Peasant knives Look though my books I came across { The studio, Peasant Art In Roumania, George Oprescu, 1929 The Studio LTD 44 Leicester Square London. Peasant is rather old fashioned I think Folk art is more Modern and the spelling of the country has also changed. I thought it a good idea to add the one photo of blades to this site. There are so many similarities to other nations knives far from Romania. Too me the most distinctive element is the scabbards . What do others see as similarities? Puuko knives? Attached Images

5th May 2022, 11:21 PM	#2
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	To me (I collect Finnish puukko), the Romanian don't resemble most puukko any more than guardless knives from most everywhere. The sabbards are interesting though. thanks for posting.

6th May 2022, 03:47 AM	#3
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	This example shows a little closer to the iconic Finnish knife style. Nice design, but to me yet no cigar. https://imgur.com/gallery/uJh6j Ed

6th May 2022, 02:42 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The only feature common to Romanian peasant knives and Finnish Puukko is the handle partially hidden in the scabbard. But the same feature is seen in Central Asian, Afghani, Tibetan, Chinese, Buryat and likely many other utility and fighting knives. Even Caucasian shashkas use the same principle. No cigar.

6th May 2022, 10:41 PM	#5
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 374	I see in the photo a clear resemblance to the knives of the Ob Ugrians - Khanty and Mansi. Together with the Hungarians, they are part of the Ugric branch of the Finno-Ugric family. Before the Second World War, Romania was a multinational state - in addition to the Romanians, many Hungarians, Germans, Gypsies, Slovaks, Jews, Russians lived there. It would be good and correct to clarify in which part of Romania the ethographic material that we see in the photo was collected.

7th May 2022, 01:22 AM	#6
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	The caption of the photo says the Huniedoara District. This area has long been a major iron, tools and weapons producing area. Also, Hungarians were/are a significant minority. Knife makers of various cultural memories/expressions likely thrived there for centuries.