Unusual Balkan? Dagger

[Atlantia]

Thought you gentlemen might like to see this one. I'm assuming its balkan, but the handle has an almost caucus look to it. Scabbard has a leather cover which if you look closely you can see the outlines of the steel mounts top and bottom through the leather:

[Lew]

This does not strike me as Balkin seems Greek maybe Crete? Still I really like it.

Congrats

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Lew

This does not strike me as Balkin seems Greek maybe Crete? Still I really like it.

Congrats

Hi Lew
Thanks mate, I do like it
The handle shape has me puzzled a bit. I'd even considered Russian.
Best
Gene

[Devadatta]

Hello,

100% not Russian

I also think that's Cretan

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Devadatta

Hello,

100% not Russian

I also think that's Cretan

LOL, I did say I'd 'considered' it
But why Crete? Isn't the hilt form wrong?

[Lew]

Actually this is not from crete looking at the small studs on the hilt and that tiny brass sleeve by the choil I think this could be Bosnian?

[eftihis]

Hallo friends,
As you can see from the photos bellow, this is a Greek knife. (not from Crete, but from mainland Greece).
These are fairly common knifes made untill recently, yet this kind of handle is atypical, (maybe a makers experiment or a creative inovation inspired from balkan "kamas".)
The first knife in the group photo has exactry the same design on blade as the one we are discussing. (photo n5)
The metal studs decoration exists in bosnian knifes, but is a simple kind of decoration that was obviously used in other places, like is happening with other simple kind of designs, like circles with dots etc...
The 6th photo has a stamped manufacturers name who is "Pourikas Larissa".
"Pourikas" is the makers name and "Larissa" the main city of the Thessalia area in the middle part of Greece. And searching the makers name in this city's telephone directory, it came out as "Pourikas E. cutting tools" ... Propably the maker's son or grandson.
In the 7th photo, the "Made in Greece" inscription is self explanatory...
Finally, the 8th photo has an example with the the date 1934 on it.
Judging from the scabbard, i would say that your knife was made after the war, arround 1950s-1960s.
Regards to all!

[Atlantia]

Eftihis
Thank you Thats a nice selection that you have there.
The top one in your pictures (with the same blade) also shares the steel top and bottom to the scabbard that mine has. Is it possible that some of yours started out with leather covers too?

[eftihis]

Hi Atlantia, the ones i have, have all their original scabbards. (They look to have the same age as the knife), and it seems that this was the way they made them. But ofcourse a customer can ask a knife maker to make something different if he likes.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by eftihis

Hi Atlantia, the ones i have, have all their original scabbards. (They look to have the same age as the knife), and it seems that this was the way they made them. But ofcourse a customer can ask a knife maker to make something different if he likes.

You can see why the hilt totally threw me off of the scent here
Is it possible that it represents a specific area of manufacture, or do you think it is definately just an 'oddity' with no great relevance?
Thanks again for your help
Also Kudos to Lew, who nailed it straight off and Devadatta who came in close with Crete.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by eftihis

Hallo friends,
As you can see from the photos bellow, this is a Greek knife. (not from Crete, but from mainland Greece).
These are fairly common knifes made untill recently, yet this kind of handle is atypical, (maybe a makers experiment or a creative inovation inspired from balkan "kamas".)
The first knife in the group photo has exactry the same design on blade as the one we are discussing. (photo n5)
The metal studs decoration exists in bosnian knifes, but is a simple kind of decoration that was obviously used in other places, like is happening with other simple kind of designs, like circles with dots etc...
The 6th photo has a stamped manufacturers name who is "Pourikas Larissa".
"Pourikas" is the makers name and "Larissa" the main city of the Thessalia area in the middle part of Greece. And searching the makers name in this city's telephone directory, it came out as "Pourikas E. cutting tools" ... Propably the maker's son or grandson.
In the 7th photo, the "Made in Greece" inscription is self explanatory...
Finally, the 8th photo has an example with the the date 1934 on it.
Judging from the scabbard, i would say that your knife was made after the war, arround 1950s-1960s.
Regards to all!

Hello again Eftihis,

I've been considering your collection, and a question occurred to me.
What is the length range of the ones you have pictured? The proportions seem a little different from mine and I'm curious.
Thanks
Gene

[eftihis]

I dont know if it is oddity, but i know is not the majority...
But in Greece as in Balkans also, we had the variations of "kinjal" type handle in many designs.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by eftihis

I dont know if it is oddity, but i know is not the majority...
But in Greece as in Balkans also, we had the variations of "kinjal" type handle in many designs.

Those are great! I love the fish emblem too.
Well, that explains the caucus style hilt.
Brilliant, thanks again

Do these have a specific name in Greek?

Also.... The leather of the scabbard has a distincly WW2 'feel' to it... if that makes any sense? It feels 'about that age', also the belt loop is about 6cm, like it was to fit a wide 'army' style belt.
Do you think that there is any chance that this could be from that era?

[eftihis]

We call them "ka'mas".
"ka'ma" is the word for one, "κa'mas" the plural.

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by eftihis

We call them "kamas"

Brilliant!