Balkan (????) knife

ariel · 10th April 2006, 05:07 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6613293604
What is so Balkan about it?
I do not like it at all: it is, to my mind, pretentious, tasteless and kitschy. Very souvenir-ish....

Valjhun · 10th April 2006, 08:45 AM

Dear Sensei,

It's me again

Well I do not know. It looks to me crap also.

BUT

Take a look at the following poicture

That is what you can buy in Montenegro as a souvenir and it is called: "THE NATIONAL KNIFE OF MONTENEGRO!!" Note the similarities: subject, style of guard...

Am I the only one to see the connection? I'm frustrated. Is there any remote possibilty that similar knives existed in montengro in the past and thatone from the auction is one of them and the on from tha photo is a modern reinterpretation?

Oriental-Arms · 10th April 2006, 09:02 AM

This is a Lebanese knife. The bird head shaped horn handle with colored inserets (corals original, plastic these days) is very typical motif ans and apears on many Lebanese daggers as well as eating utensils forks knives etc. from the second half of the 20 c.

See for example the handle of the right dagger (older and of better quality):

ariel · 10th April 2006, 03:20 PM

Well, as usual, we got the definitive answer. Thanks, Artzi.

Valjhun · 10th April 2006, 05:27 PM

Yes, I agree too, thanks Mr. Arzi.

I was wondering however if that montenegro national knife had some true predecessors...

kronckew · 11th April 2006, 09:12 PM

reminds me of this current production bosnian knife:

http://www.valiantco.com/world/BosnianDamFS.JPG

ariel · 12th April 2006, 12:49 AM

Well, if this is the case, the dagger in question is indeed Balkan.
New or old?

drdavid · 12th April 2006, 04:32 AM

I think the differentiating point here is the crossguard of the hilt. The Lebanese examples have a very consistant appearance whereas the ebay item and the new production knife do not have that crossguard...so are more likely related. As to new or old?????
cheers
DrD

10th April 2006, 05:07 AM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Balkan (????) knife http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6613293604 What is so Balkan about it? I do not like it at all: it is, to my mind, pretentious, tasteless and kitschy. Very souvenir-ish....

10th April 2006, 08:45 AM	#2
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Dear Sensei, It's me again Well I do not know. It looks to me crap also. BUT Take a look at the following poicture That is what you can buy in Montenegro as a souvenir and it is called: "THE NATIONAL KNIFE OF MONTENEGRO!!" Note the similarities: subject, style of guard... Am I the only one to see the connection? I'm frustrated. Is there any remote possibilty that similar knives existed in montengro in the past and thatone from the auction is one of them and the on from tha photo is a modern reinterpretation? Attached Images

10th April 2006, 09:02 AM	#3
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	Lebanese not Balkan This is a Lebanese knife. The bird head shaped horn handle with colored inserets (corals original, plastic these days) is very typical motif ans and apears on many Lebanese daggers as well as eating utensils forks knives etc. from the second half of the 20 c. See for example the handle of the right dagger (older and of better quality):

11th April 2006, 09:12 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	reminds me of this current production bosnian knife: http://www.valiantco.com/world/BosnianDamFS.JPG Last edited by Rick; 11th April 2006 at 10:25 PM. Reason: Direct linking to other sites is not allowed as it is considered bandwidth theft . In cases like these please post only the link .

10th April 2006, 03:20 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Well, as usual, we got the definitive answer. Thanks, Artzi.

10th April 2006, 05:27 PM	#5
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Yes, I agree too, thanks Mr. Arzi. I was wondering however if that montenegro national knife had some true predecessors...

12th April 2006, 12:49 AM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Well, if this is the case, the dagger in question is indeed Balkan. New or old?

12th April 2006, 04:32 AM	#8
drdavid Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 371	I think the differentiating point here is the crossguard of the hilt. The Lebanese examples have a very consistant appearance whereas the ebay item and the new production knife do not have that crossguard...so are more likely related. As to new or old????? cheers DrD