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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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