Interesting French knife

erlikhan · 13th April 2006, 12:10 AM

Hi.I purchased this French (I guess so) piece on ebay and i am glad i did it .Although nothing related to my main field of interest Turkish arms, I liked it very much and would request more information about age and symbols on it. Especially the medusa like male or witch? head in the middle of the scabbard.It was the main point which caused my interest to densify on the item,cause I have a French pistol with the same head figure on the stock pommel. Does it symbolize anything definite in European arms decoration terminology? And the guy with mustache on the top of the hilt? The Roman armors? etc. etc. It was described as 19th century item but by accident can it in fact be a 18th c. piece made before the French revolution,having royal symbols? The blade is strong, tip pointed and looks old.Scabbard and hilt are heavy brass.

regards

not2sharp · 13th April 2006, 12:49 AM

This one is marked FAB Toledo ano 1876. They are Spanish knives.

BTW, the handle on this is tooled steel.

n2s

Yannis · 13th April 2006, 09:49 AM

This head is of the female monster Medussa. She had the power to turn her enemies to stone. It is a common decoration on Greek and Philellenic (friends of Greeks) weapons for obvious reasons.

The tale of Medussa based on books for children, here

http://www.op97.org/instruct/ftcyber/perseus/index.html

erlikhan · 13th April 2006, 11:56 AM

Lol.Thanks .I already knew Medusa enough to guess it can be her head on the scabbard , but for further details the writing in the link is too long and boring for me.Don't you have a more colorful one rich with drawings?

Thanks not2sharp. Yes mine is tooled steel too.Doesnt have any mark.Do you know if i must doubt that this model could be a popular accessory in that era and were mass produced in Toledo in large numbers?

Andrew · 14th April 2006, 01:50 AM

I feel quite like a Gorgon myself, at times.

13th April 2006, 12:10 AM	#1
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	Interesting French knife Hi.I purchased this French (I guess so) piece on ebay and i am glad i did it .Although nothing related to my main field of interest Turkish arms, I liked it very much and would request more information about age and symbols on it. Especially the medusa like male or witch? head in the middle of the scabbard.It was the main point which caused my interest to densify on the item,cause I have a French pistol with the same head figure on the stock pommel. Does it symbolize anything definite in European arms decoration terminology? And the guy with mustache on the top of the hilt? The Roman armors? etc. etc. It was described as 19th century item but by accident can it in fact be a 18th c. piece made before the French revolution,having royal symbols? The blade is strong, tip pointed and looks old.Scabbard and hilt are heavy brass. regards Attached Images Last edited by erlikhan; 13th April 2006 at 12:58 AM.

13th April 2006, 11:56 AM	#4
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	Lol.Thanks .I already knew Medusa enough to guess it can be her head on the scabbard , but for further details the writing in the link is too long and boring for me.Don't you have a more colorful one rich with drawings? Thanks not2sharp. Yes mine is tooled steel too.Doesnt have any mark.Do you know if i must doubt that this model could be a popular accessory in that era and were mass produced in Toledo in large numbers? Last edited by erlikhan; 13th April 2006 at 09:05 PM.

13th April 2006, 12:49 AM	#2
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	This one is marked FAB Toledo ano 1876. They are Spanish knives. BTW, the handle on this is tooled steel. n2s

13th April 2006, 09:49 AM	#3
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	This head is of the female monster Medussa. She had the power to turn her enemies to stone. It is a common decoration on Greek and Philellenic (friends of Greeks) weapons for obvious reasons. The tale of Medussa based on books for children, here http://www.op97.org/instruct/ftcyber/perseus/index.html

14th April 2006, 01:50 AM	#5
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I feel quite like a Gorgon myself, at times.