Mystery knife 'Turkish' / Facon?

[Chris Evans]

Hi Gene,

This is a tricky one.

Are the furnishings made from silver?

Cheers
Chris

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

Hi Gene,

This is a tricky one.

Are the furnishings made from silver?

Cheers
Chris

Hi Chris
I haven't done much to it yet, but they do seem to be....
Best
Gene

[Chris Evans]

Hi Gene,

I must confess that the overall shape looks South American and if it is silver.... But the only Argentinean typology that it approximates is what they call a Puñal Salteño, Salta being a mountainous province quite different from the Pampa plains where mainstream Gaucho culture prevailed. These were shorter than those used in the flatlands and generally of rough manufacture, though notable exceptions exist.

One feature of yours which is strongly at odds with classical era Argentinean sheaths is the inch wide loop on the scabbard for the belt to pass through; The local preference for carriage being the insertion of the knife and sheath between the belt and the small of the back, with a tang that engages with the said belt and allows the tucking and withdrawal of the sheath and knife without having to undo the belt.

I am not familiar with the decorative pattern on the scabbard and other contributors to this forum may be able to better identify its origins. Something to keep in mind that large numbers of migrants swelled the population of Argentina from the second half of the 19th century onwards, many coming from the Middle East, so it is entirely possible, as Dom suggested, that it was made to the order of, or by, an immigrant from that part of the world.

For reference look at page 95 of Doemench's Dagas de Plata. Unfortunately my scanner is down at the moment, so I cannot help with examples of the genre.

Cheers
Chris

[Atlantia]

Hi Chris,

So it's a bit of a mystery!
You'd say from the weight of evidence that it is a 'gaucho' though would you?

Thanks
Gene

[Chris Evans]

Originally Posted by Atlantia

So it's a bit of a mystery!
You'd say from the weight of evidence that it is a 'gaucho' though would you?

Hi Gene,

Don't know. It is a strange piece.

More than anything else, that belt loop sticks in my gullet real bad, and the blade does not appear to have been sharpened or used; Is this correct?. From the photo it also appears that the blade was left in the as forged condition, without subsequent polishing; Again, is this correct?

Cheers
Chris

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Chris Evans

Hi Gene,

Don't know. It is a strange piece.

More than anything else, that belt loop sticks in my gullet real bad, and the blade does not appear to have been sharpened or used; Is this correct?. From the photo it also appears that the blade was left in the as forged condition, without subsequent polishing; Again, is this correct?

Cheers
Chris

Hi Chris

Funny you should ask
I actually had the same thoughts about the sharpening when I first saw it.
It has a single edge which is brutally sharp, but to first glance looks fairly recently sharpened. However, there are two distinct areas that were missed in that sharpening that show it always has been sharp on one edge.

The steel is quite rough. As you say either poorly finished or left to rust and cleaned at some stage.
Width of blade is variable from 1.5mm to 2mm. Generally rough and ready, but rigid like a good carving knife.

Thanks
Gene

[Chris Evans]

Hi Gene,

If you have a good loupe, have a look at the sharpened edge - Perhaps you can make out if it was sharpened by hand or on a machine.

Cheers
Chris