Nice old knife...origins? Use?

katana · 14th August 2007, 06:54 PM

Thank you for your opinion Yannis

I definately feel that this knife is old and your suggestion of over a 'century' seems highly likely. Shame there wasn't a scabbard.....are they leather covered wood ? Has anyone got a pic of a scabbard....as I would like to try and make one for it.

If anyone has any more information or comments I will be grateful if you could post. This is my first Cretan knife and know very little about them, thanks

David

Yannis · 15th August 2007, 10:29 AM

Here are two simple scabbards. Leather on wood. Sometimes there is a metallic ring on the throat of the scabbard and metallic tip.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=cretan

kronckew · 15th August 2007, 12:39 PM

Crete is still making these knives, here's a maybe not quite so fancy general purpose knife:

6" hunting knife, couple of years old. synthetic scabbard, olive wood scales, 3mm blade thickness.
marked xania - armenis, a local brand made by apostolis in xania.
(and a name apparently also used by other cretan knifesmiths in imitation)
apparently when he moved to xania 45 years ago the locals thought he was an armenian

he isn't. he was a greek born in turkey.

i understand he's getting old & not making many anymore, most of the competition has died out, so there may
not be many more made by hand anymore....

(the folder at top is a french Marjacq twistlock in ebony - 3 3/8" Hi carbon steel blade)

for more info on cretan knives of a much higher caliber & of the more traditional style see the Cretan Knife Website

eftihis · 28th August 2007, 01:57 PM

Hi David, it is a good, ordinary working example of a cretan knife, nothing special thought. Late 19th to early 20th century. I would suggest to leave it as it is, utherwise find a scabbard from a finish pukko, it fits well if you find the same size.

15th August 2007, 12:39 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,239	Crete is still making these knives, here's a maybe not quite so fancy general purpose knife: 6" hunting knife, couple of years old. synthetic scabbard, olive wood scales, 3mm blade thickness. marked xania - armenis, a local brand made by apostolis in xania. (and a name apparently also used by other cretan knifesmiths in imitation) apparently when he moved to xania 45 years ago the locals thought he was an armenian he isn't. he was a greek born in turkey. i understand he's getting old & not making many anymore, most of the competition has died out, so there may not be many more made by hand anymore.... (the folder at top is a french Marjacq twistlock in ebony - 3 3/8" Hi carbon steel blade) for more info on cretan knives of a much higher caliber & of the more traditional style see the Cretan Knife Website Last edited by kronckew; 15th August 2007 at 12:58 PM.

14th August 2007, 06:54 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thank you for your opinion Yannis I definately feel that this knife is old and your suggestion of over a 'century' seems highly likely. Shame there wasn't a scabbard.....are they leather covered wood ? Has anyone got a pic of a scabbard....as I would like to try and make one for it. If anyone has any more information or comments I will be grateful if you could post. This is my first Cretan knife and know very little about them, thanks David

15th August 2007, 10:29 AM	#2
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	Here are two simple scabbards. Leather on wood. Sometimes there is a metallic ring on the throat of the scabbard and metallic tip. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=cretan

28th August 2007, 01:57 PM	#4
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 512	Hi David, it is a good, ordinary working example of a cretan knife, nothing special thought. Late 19th to early 20th century. I would suggest to leave it as it is, utherwise find a scabbard from a finish pukko, it fits well if you find the same size.