UNKNOWN KNIFE

VANDOO · 10th May 2012, 07:58 PM

HERE IS AN UNKNOWN KNIFE BOUGHT IN THE 1960'S FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORICAL ARMS. THEY IDENTIFIED IT AS A MADAGASCAR KNIFE?? THE HANDLE IS BRASS AND THERE IS WRITING ON THE BLADE PERHAPS IF SOMEONE CAN ZOOM IN FOR A TRANSLATION IT MIGHT SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE ITEM. ANY IDEAS OR INFORMATION APPRECIATED. I HAVE WONDERED ABOUT THIS ITEM FOR A LONG TIME. THANKS IN ADVANCE.

Atlantia · 10th May 2012, 08:06 PM

Great looking knife Barry. Can you take a clearer pic of the inscription? If I blow it up it's unrecognisable.

Berkley · 10th May 2012, 08:30 PM

Blown up and inverted, the last part appears to read "GUATEMALA C.A.". First word is not readable on my monitor.

VANDOO · 10th May 2012, 08:46 PM

UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE THE KNIFE ON HAND FOR MORE PICTURES BUT WILL SEE WHAT I CAN COME UP WITH. THE ODD POMMEL AND THE RING GAURD ALWAYS MADE ME WONDER IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SORT OF BOWIE ADAPTED FOR USE AS A BAYONET. AT LEAST IT APPEARS TO BE FROM THE AMERICAS INSTEAD OF AFRICA, I HAD ALWAYS SUSPECTED NORTH AFRICA MOROCCO, ALGERIA ECT. THANKS

KuKulzA28 · 11th May 2012, 10:09 PM

could be some sort of composite piece... a blade from here, a bayonet attachment guard from there, and then a handle... assembled together?

VANDOO · 12th May 2012, 02:50 AM

I THINK IT WAS ASSEMBLED ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THE BLADE AND THE GAURD WITH THE HOLE FOR A BARREL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MADE FROM BRASS TO MATCH THE HANDLE FOR THE KNIFE. THE HANDLE MAY HAVE BEEN FROM SOME EXHISTING FIXTURE FROM SOMETHING THAT THE MAKER THOUGHT MADE A GOOD KNIFE HANDLE. THE BLADE AND SCABBARD ARE WELL MADE AND JUDGING FROM THE PATINA ALL PUT TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME. I AM GUESSING AROUND WW1 TIME FRAME.

delor · 26th May 2012, 08:36 AM

It seems to me that the shape of the handle would prevent a barrel to fit into the hole...

10th May 2012, 07:58 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	UNKNOWN KNIFE HERE IS AN UNKNOWN KNIFE BOUGHT IN THE 1960'S FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORICAL ARMS. THEY IDENTIFIED IT AS A MADAGASCAR KNIFE?? THE HANDLE IS BRASS AND THERE IS WRITING ON THE BLADE PERHAPS IF SOMEONE CAN ZOOM IN FOR A TRANSLATION IT MIGHT SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE ITEM. ANY IDEAS OR INFORMATION APPRECIATED. I HAVE WONDERED ABOUT THIS ITEM FOR A LONG TIME. THANKS IN ADVANCE. Attached Images

10th May 2012, 08:30 PM	#3
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	Blown up and inverted, the last part appears to read "GUATEMALA C.A.". First word is not readable on my monitor. Attached Images Last edited by Berkley; 10th May 2012 at 08:34 PM. Reason: Add pic

10th May 2012, 08:06 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Great looking knife Barry. Can you take a clearer pic of the inscription? If I blow it up it's unrecognisable.

10th May 2012, 08:46 PM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE THE KNIFE ON HAND FOR MORE PICTURES BUT WILL SEE WHAT I CAN COME UP WITH. THE ODD POMMEL AND THE RING GAURD ALWAYS MADE ME WONDER IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SORT OF BOWIE ADAPTED FOR USE AS A BAYONET. AT LEAST IT APPEARS TO BE FROM THE AMERICAS INSTEAD OF AFRICA, I HAD ALWAYS SUSPECTED NORTH AFRICA MOROCCO, ALGERIA ECT. THANKS

11th May 2012, 10:09 PM	#5
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	could be some sort of composite piece... a blade from here, a bayonet attachment guard from there, and then a handle... assembled together?

12th May 2012, 02:50 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I THINK IT WAS ASSEMBLED ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THE BLADE AND THE GAURD WITH THE HOLE FOR A BARREL APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MADE FROM BRASS TO MATCH THE HANDLE FOR THE KNIFE. THE HANDLE MAY HAVE BEEN FROM SOME EXHISTING FIXTURE FROM SOMETHING THAT THE MAKER THOUGHT MADE A GOOD KNIFE HANDLE. THE BLADE AND SCABBARD ARE WELL MADE AND JUDGING FROM THE PATINA ALL PUT TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME. I AM GUESSING AROUND WW1 TIME FRAME.

26th May 2012, 08:36 AM	#7
delor Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Marseille - France Posts: 73	It seems to me that the shape of the handle would prevent a barrel to fit into the hole...