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#1 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
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HERE IS A UNUSUAL DAGGER FOR DISCUSSION. THE ONLY INFORMATION I HAVE ON IT IS IT IS FROM A COUNTRY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA. IT MUST HAVE HAD SOME SPECIAL USE TO HAVE SUCH AN UNUSUAL FORM OF BLADE.
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,731
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Is that a slot I see towards the blade tip? If so it could be some sort of sewing tool...maybe for sails?
Stu |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,061
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It looks very like the classic "Mediterranian Dirk" but with a stiletto point. Makes sense actualy, a knife edge for utility cutting and a stiletto point for combat. A real bespoke piece and very nice to have.
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brooklyn, NY USA
Posts: 227
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An eating utensil? The point can be used as a skewer (instead of a fork) and the cutting ege is for cutting... Just a guess
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#5 | |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
Posts: 2,928
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![]() Quote:
A blade to cut the sail-cloth, an awl to make the holes and a hook to pull the yarn through. Just a guess though. It's certainly a good looking and quality item. I'd also agree mediterranean. Possibly naval rather than 'fisherman'. Last edited by Atlantia; 15th February 2012 at 09:53 AM. Reason: because I can't spell 'mediterranean' lol |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
Posts: 2,928
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Definately looks European though Barry. You could try the Euro forum?
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 27
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The fluting (or whatever) suggests this is Italian (or maybe French) as they are the main ones who heavily used that sort of decoration - it is also found in furniture. It doth have a Baroque-ish smack to it. A distant variant is the spiral columns of the Vatican altar.
As for the application, if there is a hole in the end it would likely be used for pulling cord, but if not sails then maybe upholstery. If the blade is sharp or has a slightly chisel edge that may give a clue to use. |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 180
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The handle looks like it is made of a cut section of twisted vine (tropical?) more than carved, is it? Is it wood at all?
To me it certainly looks like a specialised tool from around the 1830's, perhaps Italian or Spanish as does the iron decoration indicate. It certainly belonged to a craftman specialised in a particular job, maybe on mainland or maybe on board of a ship (hence the tropical addition?). >>>just my humble thoughts on this item<< ![]() |
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#9 | |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
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Salaams VANDOO ~ I was researching something quite obscure (Genoese Naval Swords) and bumped into the Genoese Knife style you show at # 1. Please see www.sangiorgioaste.com Solved !! Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. ![]() |
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,770
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Looks like the skewer in a meat carving set.
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#11 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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so, what is it?
(i can't read the illustrated page, ibrahim) (also can't read italian ![]() the perforated tip does lend itself to some sort of sailor's dagger also used for sail repair and/or fancy knotwork. |
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#12 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,242
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Hello,
This a Genovese knife "con passacorda", referring to the thin blade tip. It was supposedly indeed used for rigging and knots. The slit in the blade, or sometimes in the tang when the handle unscrews from the blade, is known as the "cruna" and basically makes a larger threading needle. That's a wonderful book by the way with excellent information, but in Italian. I will look up the specific info when I get home tonight. Here is a page from "Dizionari Terminologici - Armi Bianche dal Mediebo all'Eta Moderna" (Florence, 1980) for additional reference. See F and G, terms, 10 and 26. Emanuel Last edited by Emanuel; 9th April 2014 at 03:39 PM. |
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#13 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE
Posts: 4,408
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I got a reasonable translation by pressing the little flag top right on the website reference but anyway this is not only an excellent matelots weapon/ rigging tool but became famous as a dastardly dagger up the back alleyways in Genoa on dark nights...and the book goes on to describe its reputation and prohibition as an illegal blade..I cant think why...
Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. ![]() |
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