Strange Keris blade or???

VVV · 1st October 2006, 09:42 AM

Ian,

I am not sure on which kind of horn it is so I have enclosed two additional pictures of the hilt.

Henk,

I think you are correct that the sheath isn't original after having a closer look at it. I am not so much into either Scandinavian Sami knives or Finnish Puukko (the grass is always greener...) but don't they usually have thicker leather for their sheaths?
My only reference on that is the ones being sold in the souvenir shops in Stockholm's Old Town.
I also forgot to mention that this blade of course have Pamor.

Michael

Lew · 1st October 2006, 01:00 PM

Hi Guys

The hilt is not rhino it's most likely some type of buffalo horn. The dagger reminds me of the Beja daggers of Africa.

Lew

VVV · 1st October 2006, 01:18 PM

Thanks Lew,

For what do they use the Beja daggers in Africa?

Michael

Lew · 1st October 2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Thanks Lew,

For what do they use the Beja daggers in Africa?

Michael

VVV

Here are a few pics. The warrior has one in his belt/sash. They are weapons of war and my guess also a status symbol much like the Arab jambiya.

Henk · 1st October 2006, 02:57 PM

Michael,

I think Lew is right about the buffalo horn for the ukiran.

About the leather of scandinavian knives, you're right, thick leather is used. I cann't see how thick the leather is on the picture, but I looked at the shape of the scabbard.

VVV · 1st October 2006, 03:20 PM

Thanks for the nice pictures Lew.

Henk, the leather of this sheath is quite thin.
But I see now that it's not visible for you on my picture.

Michael

A. G. Maisey · 1st October 2006, 10:40 PM

On the leather used in puuko sheaths.

Yeah, modern commercial puukos use reasonably heavy leather, however the leather in antique puuko sheaths is really quite thin.

A lot of puukos use a liner of fibre , or in the old sheaths of wood ,and then the outside leather is sewn wet around the liner and shunk on.

When I was doing a lot of knife making, I made a lot of puuko blades of various patterns, and to turn them into knives I was working with bloke who used to spend summers in ---I think---Norway. Anyway, when he was there he lived in a rural area with traditional knifemaker, who had taught him the full craft. The blades were as rough as guts---they worked well and held an edge well, but the finish was not good.

However, the sheaths and handles were real works of art. The leather that was used in the sheaths was really very thin. It was some sort of a semi-cured leather, not tanned like normal leather. The sheaths he made when he was in Australia used a different type of leather, but it was still very thin, and I think I remember him telling me that there was only one small tannery where he could buy it. I think it was a traditional bark tan.

Many old puukos used metal sheaths, and I have one very old village made puuko that has a sheath of horn.

1st October 2006, 09:42 AM	#1
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Ian, I am not sure on which kind of horn it is so I have enclosed two additional pictures of the hilt. Henk, I think you are correct that the sheath isn't original after having a closer look at it. I am not so much into either Scandinavian Sami knives or Finnish Puukko (the grass is always greener...) but don't they usually have thicker leather for their sheaths? My only reference on that is the ones being sold in the souvenir shops in Stockholm's Old Town. I also forgot to mention that this blade of course have Pamor. Michael Attached Images

1st October 2006, 01:00 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Guys The hilt is not rhino it's most likely some type of buffalo horn. The dagger reminds me of the Beja daggers of Africa. Lew

1st October 2006, 01:18 PM	#3
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks Lew, For what do they use the Beja daggers in Africa? Michael

1st October 2006, 02:57 PM	#5
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Michael, I think Lew is right about the buffalo horn for the ukiran. About the leather of scandinavian knives, you're right, thick leather is used. I cann't see how thick the leather is on the picture, but I looked at the shape of the scabbard.

1st October 2006, 03:20 PM	#6
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	Thanks for the nice pictures Lew. Henk, the leather of this sheath is quite thin. But I see now that it's not visible for you on my picture. Michael

1st October 2006, 10:40 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,047	On the leather used in puuko sheaths. Yeah, modern commercial puukos use reasonably heavy leather, however the leather in antique puuko sheaths is really quite thin. A lot of puukos use a liner of fibre , or in the old sheaths of wood ,and then the outside leather is sewn wet around the liner and shunk on. When I was doing a lot of knife making, I made a lot of puuko blades of various patterns, and to turn them into knives I was working with bloke who used to spend summers in ---I think---Norway. Anyway, when he was there he lived in a rural area with traditional knifemaker, who had taught him the full craft. The blades were as rough as guts---they worked well and held an edge well, but the finish was not good. However, the sheaths and handles were real works of art. The leather that was used in the sheaths was really very thin. It was some sort of a semi-cured leather, not tanned like normal leather. The sheaths he made when he was in Australia used a different type of leather, but it was still very thin, and I think I remember him telling me that there was only one small tannery where he could buy it. I think it was a traditional bark tan. Many old puukos used metal sheaths, and I have one very old village made puuko that has a sheath of horn.