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12th July 2019, 10:15 PM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 10
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Please Help with Solingen Knife?
Hi everyone,
Can someone please help me identify the possible age, origin and maker of this Solingen knife? Knife appears to be all hand-made including the sheath. The handle is made of what appears to be walrus(?) tusk, with a unknown animal(?) carved in high relief, handle lacking its pommel and sheath rivets with rosehead-type heads. Knife Size approx: 8-1/2 inches. Thank you all in advance for your time and help. Kind regards, Jo |
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13th July 2019, 12:13 AM
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#2 |
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EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,219
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Welcome to our little forum!
Actually this looks like elephant ivory to me with age, and European in nature. I'll sent this over to the European section for you. |
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13th July 2019, 12:51 AM
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#3 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NC, U.S.A.
Posts: 2,092
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Nice knife! This one is a mystery, but I'll take a stab. Obviously, the blade is a German import. The clipped point bowie-style blade type was popular in the Americas in the early 19th and later century. The scabbard is western in pattern (not Asian, Philippine, etc), with copper studs seen on colonial Amer pieces up to the time of the CW, American southwestern pieces, etc. The ivory hilt is beautifully carved in more of an ethnographic style, but with the other amenities pointing to non-ethno, my guess is that this piece could be colonial Spanish (Am SW, Mexico) or South American?? Much German influence and imported Solingen blades found on gaucho knives, etc.
Of course, I could be blowing smoke! Some European knives had clip points. The carving could be a loose interpretation of Germanic carving (trouse knives). What is this strange animal head? Not a stag, bear or wolf! Looks like a wallaby!!!  Could it be a bat?! (Mexico)
Last edited by M ELEY; 13th July 2019 at 01:06 AM. |
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13th July 2019, 03:40 AM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 10
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Thank you both for your time and thoughts.
M ELEY, I believe you are spot on! In conducting a little internet research, I was able to locate a near identical sheath baring copper rivets, but housing I different knife than the one I have posted here and it was ID'ed as a: 'Indian Trade Knife'. I'm not applying my knife is that of an Indian Trade piece, but at least I have something to go on as far as research. The animal carved atop the handle I can't really tell what it is/was to represent. It's face has been rubbed from age/wear and its features somewhat gone. Appears to be an owl(?), bat(?) or ??? Anyway, I'll travel down more of the the roads you've suggested in hopes of ID'ing this piece. To be continued..... Kind Regards, Jo |
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13th July 2019, 08:41 AM
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#5 |
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,224
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What a nice knife.
I am happy that it was posted in ethnographic for a short while catching my attention  I really wonder what animal it represents. because the carver gave it a very prominent place on the hilt. form over function obviously. Can you make pictures from various angles, more frontal of the creatures face ? I have rotated and mirrored 1 picture. Best regards, Willem |
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13th July 2019, 08:49 AM
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#6 |
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 2,224
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How about this one
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13th July 2019, 08:52 AM
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#7 |
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,181
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The sheath seems rather crudely made compared to the knife itself, I'd think it was a later hurried addition due to loss of the original sheath or scabbard.
It deserves a better one. P.s. - The fennec fox: (the winter arctic fox also looks a lot like the carving) |
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