id small pretty letter opener

[Sajen]

Hello Vitor,

Welcome to the forum!
In my humble opinion you have a very old and nice "Nicker" (not Knicker) from Germany or from Austria. I have a small collection of these hunting daggers which are also part of the traditional costume in parts of both countries.

Regards,
Detlef

[vitorvt]

Thank you.
Sajen, I happen to have a similar one. But it's not the same thing.

[Sajen]

They come in many different forms but the blade shape is the giveaway. The one in question from you seems to be very old, I never have seen a similar one. But it's for sure a "nicker"!

Regards,
Detlef

[vitorvt]

By very old, do you mean and agree on 1850–1860? Or older?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by vitorvt

By very old, do you mean and agree on 1850–1860? Or older?

I can't put a real date on your nicker but I think that it's clearly from the 19th century.
I personally would clean it up a little bit.

[vitorvt]

Yes, I am waiting for the products to arrive: Renaissance Wax, Metal De-Corroder and Surface Cleaner (advertising aside), steel wool 0000 and scrubbing fiber pads. I don't know if I can clean the black stains, I think they're too ingrained, we'll see.

[gp]

Be carefull if or when cleaning it ...in order not to damage the yellowish ( gold ?) decoration on the blade !


'Bom dia !

It for certain is no letter opener but a smal knife or dagger originating from the region of the Holy Roman Empire (Sacrum Imperium Romanum Nationis Germanicae )based upon the type and decoration of the blade ;
most likely a saint as seen on many coins and coat of arms from Ragusa to Pomerania. Or a later copy of this style from the Iberian region...( the latter could make sense due to the historical Habsburgian connection Mexico, Spain, Austria...)

The type of knife is quite common found like Sajen stated in the Germanic speaking countries and neighbouring countries.

Indeed the grip is very interesting based upon the geometrical decoration which could indicate :

- either a fancy re-creation ( tourist?) at around 1900 or
- what I believe to be a beautiful piece like the filigree art on the grip as one sees in the Mediteranean countries and also Portugal from its style....

What is the grip made of ? Horn or bone?
And the scabbard? what metal and leather? Please use some colorless oil to clean and feed it, brings it back to life and maybe also shows better the decoration on the scabbard ( could help or be an indication of its origin as well) ...

So a lot of questions but anyway a very nice piece for sure !

[vitorvt]

The scabbard needs some special attention, it's a little worn. I think it's made of brass and some sort of leather.

I guess the grip is made of horn and resin.

Could my knife be a one-off, a special order, a Frankenknife? How about the signature Jst.? Is there no other similar one?

[gp]

Originally Posted by vitorvt

The scabbard needs some special attention, it's a little worn. I think it's made of brass and some sort of leather.
Attachment 251473Attachment 251472
I guess the grip is made of horn and resin.
Attachment 251474
Could my knife be a one-off, a special order, a Frankenknife? How about the signature Jst.? Is there no other similar one?
Attachment 251464Attachment 251465

it normally is brass indeed, with most of these knives and daggers.
I believe by the looks the grip is horn like you mostly see with the knives of that period, sometimes it is bone...the white colour often turns a little yellow through the times of years of touching
The decoration on the grip is unusual for that type of knive so it could perhaps be custom-made by request for the buyer but the signature is an open question
Never seen something like it, but that doesn't mean much .
Remains the fact that it is a very beautiful and most interesting one !Felicitar Your father had good taste

[vitorvt]

Sajen, could you post a photo of the tang (the handle, from the top and/or bottom)? Is it the same as mine? Thank you.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by vitorvt

Attachment 251506
Sajen, could you post a photo of the tang (the handle, from the top and/or bottom)? Is it the same as mine? Thank you.

The ones I've posted are not mine, I've taken the pics from the net! But I can tell you that all I've seen until now don't show the cut outs by the tang. like I said before, it's the most unusual nicker I've seen until now but the blade shape tells me that's a nicker for sure. Therefore my guess is that it's a very old one and was one for a wealthy person.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by vitorvt

Attachment 251506
Sajen, could you post a photo of the tang (the handle, from the top and/or bottom)? Is it the same as mine? Thank you.

This is a complete different animal, it's a dagger from Algeria.