Knife/dagger identification problem

buendia · 11th June 2011, 12:38 PM

I don`t have any idea where this knife comes from. I thought maybe Balkans, but I didn`t find anything really similar. Can you help?
The knife is about 25cm long.

tom hyle · 11th June 2011, 01:12 PM

Is the grip one-piece with a full length stalk tang? Is it horn?

buendia · 17th June 2011, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hyle

Is the grip one-piece with a full length stalk tang? Is it horn?

Answer to both questions is YES.

I have found very similar ornaments on the blades of Bosnian and Silesian highlanders` traditional knives (respectively).
Silesian highlanders live on the Czech - Polish border, and are the most north-western descendants of Vallachian shepherds from the Balkans (came in 15th century). The similarities are conspicuous.

tom hyle · 18th June 2011, 11:34 AM

Such a tang seems more Persian or European than Turkish.

sisi_d · 7th August 2011, 07:55 PM

This is a Bosnian or Croatian knife. They are called youth knives are worn by young men who were not married.

gp · 21st May 2022, 10:26 PM

the first knife is typical Balkan, comming from the Ottoman influence but found in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia till 1945.

The other is typical for Bosnia and surrounding border area of Croatia and Serbia. Also backdating from the Ottoman times.
Typical are the circular , sometimes straighh lines, looking like a "naive"like semi sun with little stars around.
As you can see in the examples.

Used as multi use knives for fishing, hunting and such. Given to older boys but also a good companion for an adult , and ...useful if needed in a fight in those days.
They also exist with a slight longer blade.

Atlantia · 11th June 2011, 01:41 PM

For some reason I'm also thinking Balkan/Turkish possibly Greek....

Nice piece!

Lew · 12th June 2011, 03:04 AM

I agree looks Turkish.

buendia · 13th June 2011, 01:02 AM

Grip is made of horn, but I didn`t have it in my hands so far. I`ll write more about it on Tuesday. What`s an English term for the punched embelishments on the blade? It was very common in the whole Carpathian region till WW1/WW2.

David R · 21st May 2022, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buendia

Grip is made of horn, but I didn`t have it in my hands so far. I`ll write more about it on Tuesday. What`s an English term for the punched embelishments on the blade? It was very common in the whole Carpathian region till WW1/WW2.

We used to call it wigglework or wiggle work a traditional cheap and fast metal embellishment, but don't bother trying to reference it on google. All references are swamped by other irrelevant stuff now..... Ooh hang on "engraved by wiggle-work on metal" delivers this. https://robbinacekeller.wordpress.co...i-mean-wiggle/

11th June 2011, 12:38 PM	#1
buendia Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Silesia, Poland Posts: 41	Knife/dagger identification problem I don`t have any idea where this knife comes from. I thought maybe Balkans, but I didn`t find anything really similar. Can you help? The knife is about 25cm long. Attached Images

21st May 2022, 10:26 PM	#6
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 717	the first knife is typical Balkan, comming from the Ottoman influence but found in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia till 1945. The other is typical for Bosnia and surrounding border area of Croatia and Serbia. Also backdating from the Ottoman times. Typical are the circular , sometimes straighh lines, looking like a "naive"like semi sun with little stars around. As you can see in the examples. Used as multi use knives for fishing, hunting and such. Given to older boys but also a good companion for an adult , and ...useful if needed in a fight in those days. They also exist with a slight longer blade. Attached Images Last edited by gp; 22nd May 2022 at 01:23 AM.

11th June 2011, 01:41 PM	#7
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	For some reason I'm also thinking Balkan/Turkish possibly Greek.... Nice piece! Last edited by Atlantia; 11th June 2011 at 02:00 PM.

11th June 2011, 01:12 PM	#2
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Is the grip one-piece with a full length stalk tang? Is it horn?

18th June 2011, 11:34 AM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Such a tang seems more Persian or European than Turkish.

7th August 2011, 07:55 PM	#5
sisi_d Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Bulgaria Posts: 6	This is a Bosnian or Croatian knife. They are called youth knives are worn by young men who were not married.

12th June 2011, 03:04 AM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I agree looks Turkish.

13th June 2011, 01:02 AM	#9
buendia Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Silesia, Poland Posts: 41	Grip is made of horn, but I didn`t have it in my hands so far. I`ll write more about it on Tuesday. What`s an English term for the punched embelishments on the blade? It was very common in the whole Carpathian region till WW1/WW2.