Sarajevo knife and fork.

[gp]

and a 3rd set from Sarajevo Bosnia

Knife 32 cm
Fork 33 cm

[gp]

Originally Posted by gp

and a 3rd set from Sarajevo Bosnia

Knife 32 cm
Fork 33 cm

also here some more detailed pics, unfortunately the year on the knife could not be better shown

[gp]

request for advice: I just received this set ( although I knew about the lacking piece of horn on the knife ) was wondering what to do?
Normally from an authentic / original perspective 2 options can be applied:

1. leave as is
2. add a replacement piece in such a way that a clear difference can be seen between original and authentic piece versus addition.

This is done f.i. with historic seals or old books or jewelry.

Henceforth looking forward to your experience and advice being the new kid on the block... THNX a lot

[Tim Simmons]

If you can get the handle off it will be easy to form another spacer from bone and when polished will fit in very well.

[gp]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

If you can get the handle off it will be easy to form another spacer from bone and when polished will fit in very well.

Thnx a lot for the advice !

[gp]

Proof that most of these smaller knives from a later date were made for non combat reasons but rather ceremonial, domestic or touristic use by the K.u.K. officers corps is for instance this original cutlery set box from 1889

[gp]

seperate from the cutlery box, I have seen several times an original set containing one single knive ( smal bichaq) with one fork and sometimes one spoon being wrapped in a leather cloth.
This being pure functional : for picknick or field lunches by the officers in Bosnia, Hercegowina and Sandzjak.
Rarely one sees a luxery version like the enclosed set in a scabbard.
This is also an early set as it lacks the year BUT has Sarajevo written in Arabic Turkish caligraphic letters next to Sarajevo in Latin writing, which one does not see at all in later sets { i.e. from the late 188-ies}

[gp]

Originally Posted by gp

and a 3rd set from Sarajevo Bosnia

Knife 32 cm
Fork 33 cm

never thought they would come bigger, but just stumbled on this set
knife 39 cm
Fork 35 cm

with 2 sets, at least I can invite Detlef for a BABI PANGANG now :-)))

[gp]

latest set I was happy to find :

knife & fork with a grip / handle I never have seen before
neither bichaqs or other knife / dagger types from Bosnia
yet it has all the characteristic ornaments:the combination of the below 3

- circular / rings with three copper wheel-like pieces in them
- metal, iron rivets on top
- bone grip

need to clean them ( green copper oxidation on the bone) when they arrive.

Any of you seen these grips before ?


BR

Gunar

[Battara]

What is the meaning of the green color in the bone pieces?

[Dmitry]

Originally Posted by Battara

What is the meaning of the green color in the bone pieces?

Just something different, possibly made to imitate the color of a mineral, like malachite.

[gp]

Originally Posted by Battara

What is the meaning of the green color in the bone pieces?

my guess is contamination by the copper rings due to bad storagein a humid place, but I can give a better reply once I have received them and cleaned / restored them.
I have seen it with some bichaqs of my collections before.
The green ones are complete green and do not show this kind of deterioration; they look like the above ones or the attached one
Folks handle swords with care, daggers also but the smaller items get often less care, specially these kind of cutlery.


Please bear with me....and I answer when I'll get them

[Battara]

Yes I'm not talking about a green hue like oxidized copper, but when the bone is dyed green.

[Saracen]

Yes, I'm interested in it too. What is the meaning of the green color of the hilts ?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by gp

with 2 sets, at least I can invite Detlef for a BABI PANGANG now :-)))

Ini enak sekali!

[gp]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Ini enak sekali!

Selamat makan / enjoy the food mein Freund ! ☼

[gp]

my latest purchase, just received , is this set and is most beautiful and best intact of my collection with regards to the golden decoration and writting being almost untouched.

One question remains: what is written in Arabic writting?

As certainly "Sarajevo" it is not:

- the S is missing
- also the combination of other letters in caligraphic do not make sense
- no similarities with previous or other knives and bichaqs from my collection

or I might be missing something...any advise is more than welcome!

[gp]

concerning the long forks as in

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...34&postcount=7

I just got a similar one but with one difference:

most of these long forks ( 31 cm long or more) either have only a decoration on the top of the metal piece where the fork goes into the grip or in gold Sarajevo written in Latin writting with flower decoration on the reverse side.

This new one has as well Sarajevo and the date 1888 written but next to Latin on one side also something on the reverse side in Arab writting of which I could decipher "Sarajevo" but no date in Arabic writting and something else written for which my knowledge of Arab writting is too little.
Obvious the language is most likely Bosnian in Turkish translated probably and in Arab writting...which doesn't make it any eassier...

Any one a guess ??? Much obliged if you could or would ...☺