Need help to identify a little knife, Greek, Black Sea, Bulgarian?

Sajen · 12th July 2021, 09:35 PM

I've won this little knife in a lot, my main interest was for an other knife, but after a little bit of TLC it's a small beauty, very well made, cow or goat horn scales, fine copper bolster and a very well worked blade.
I am not able to pinpoint the exact origin. Greek, Black Sea, Bulgarian, Balkan? I don't think I have seen a similar knife before.

It's 21,5 cm overall, blade 12 cm, blade is 3,5 mm thick short after handle scales, weight: 63 gram. Last picture shows it together with a Faca de Ponta and a Canary Island knife from the same auction for size comparison.
Is someone able to tell me more about this knife? All comments are very welcome.

TVV · 13th July 2021, 12:31 AM

I do not know what this knife is, but it is not Bulgarian.

Teodor

G. Mansfield · 13th July 2021, 02:34 AM

Sajen, my humble guess of its origin would be the area near Northeast Turkey. The bifurcated horn pommel and blade decoration reminds me of the laz bichaq swords (Black Sea Yataghan). Interesting little knife though!

-Geoff

eftihis · 13th July 2021, 07:25 AM

Not Greek in my opinion.

Sajen · 14th July 2021, 06:21 PM

Hello Teodor, Geoff and Eftihis,

Thank you very much for comment!

So it's most probably not Bulgarian or Greece but could be from the Black Sea area which was my first guess also!

My hope is that Sfenoid chime in and confirm it.

Thank you again and best regards,
Detlef

Hombre · 14th July 2021, 07:52 PM

Really like the Faca de Ponta! Nice catch!

Sajen · 14th July 2021, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hombre

Really like the Faca de Ponta! Nice catch!

Thank you Stefan!

I will show it by time with some other 19th century Faca de Ponta.

Regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 17th July 2021, 01:49 PM

Really no one able to identify the origin of this knife??

Sajen · 30th December 2021, 10:48 AM

Bump!

kronckew · 30th December 2021, 12:35 PM

Reminds me of the Roach belly trade knives popular in the18c N. Americas. It is naturally, not from there - i'd go along with Turkish asia minor. Nice knife. (In this context, the 'Roach' is a rounded belly fish, not the insect.)

Sajen · 30th December 2021, 01:27 PM

Thank you Wayne! I think that the Trapper knife will be bigger!?

I guess that my one is from the Black Sea area but it's just my guess.

Regards,
Detlef

kronckew · 30th December 2021, 03:01 PM

Mine has an 11.5 cm. blade

mariusgmioc · 30th December 2021, 03:03 PM

Like Geoff suggested, clearly a knife version of a Laz bichaq.

The overall shape of the blade, the engravings on the blade and the bifurcated horn hilt are all consistent with the attribution to the Laz people.

Sajen · 30th December 2021, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

Mine has an 11.5 cm. blade

Uuups!

Sajen · 30th December 2021, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

Like Geoff suggested, clearly a knife version of a Laz bichaq.

The overall shape of the blade, the engravings on the blade and the bifurcated horn hilt are all consistent with the attribution to the Laz people.

Thank you Marius!

I was unsure but your clear statement convinced me.

Regards,
Detlef

12th July 2021, 09:35 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Need help to identify a little knife, Greek, Black Sea, Bulgarian? I've won this little knife in a lot, my main interest was for an other knife, but after a little bit of TLC it's a small beauty, very well made, cow or goat horn scales, fine copper bolster and a very well worked blade. I am not able to pinpoint the exact origin. Greek, Black Sea, Bulgarian, Balkan? I don't think I have seen a similar knife before. It's 21,5 cm overall, blade 12 cm, blade is 3,5 mm thick short after handle scales, weight: 63 gram. Last picture shows it together with a Faca de Ponta and a Canary Island knife from the same auction for size comparison. Is someone able to tell me more about this knife? All comments are very welcome. Attached Images

30th December 2021, 12:35 PM	#10
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,182	Reminds me of the Roach belly trade knives popular in the18c N. Americas. It is naturally, not from there - i'd go along with Turkish asia minor. Nice knife. (In this context, the 'Roach' is a rounded belly fish, not the insect.) Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 30th December 2021 at 01:06 PM.

30th December 2021, 03:01 PM	#12
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,182	Mine has an 11.5 cm. blade Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 30th December 2021 at 03:16 PM.

13th July 2021, 12:31 AM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,620	I do not know what this knife is, but it is not Bulgarian. Teodor

13th July 2021, 02:34 AM	#3
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 83	Sajen, my humble guess of its origin would be the area near Northeast Turkey. The bifurcated horn pommel and blade decoration reminds me of the laz bichaq swords (Black Sea Yataghan). Interesting little knife though! -Geoff

13th July 2021, 07:25 AM	#4
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 507	Not Greek in my opinion.

14th July 2021, 06:21 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Hello Teodor, Geoff and Eftihis, Thank you very much for comment! So it's most probably not Bulgarian or Greece but could be from the Black Sea area which was my first guess also! My hope is that Sfenoid chime in and confirm it. Thank you again and best regards, Detlef

14th July 2021, 07:52 PM	#6
Hombre Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 232	Really like the Faca de Ponta! Nice catch!

17th July 2021, 01:49 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Really no one able to identify the origin of this knife??

30th December 2021, 10:48 AM	#9
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Bump!

30th December 2021, 01:27 PM	#11
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,770	Thank you Wayne! I think that the Trapper knife will be bigger!? I guess that my one is from the Black Sea area but it's just my guess. Regards, Detlef

30th December 2021, 03:03 PM	#13
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Like Geoff suggested, clearly a knife version of a Laz bichaq. The overall shape of the blade, the engravings on the blade and the bifurcated horn hilt are all consistent with the attribution to the Laz people.