19th century bone knife

[gp]

Originally Posted by Battara

Hard to tell from the pictures, but the "gems" could also be colored bone, which I have seen on hilts like this before.

cornelian: a translucent red or orange variety of chalcedony = transparent quartz

[gp]

Originally Posted by gp

cornelian: a translucent red or orange variety of chalcedony = transparent quartz

some more info on the gem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnelian

and found an early discussion in which Rick and Ester were correct:http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=carnelian

as for the type, it is indeed Bosnian as you can see / compare it with my bichaqs I showed in several threads in this forum and this Yataghan:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...aghan+sarajevo


also senor Pinchot was right in his comment:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=carnelian

first of all some feedback how this gem came into the world of Islam, i.e. Balkans, Ottoman Empie and early Arab world, as we have to go back to the Prophet;

The Prophet Mohammed was said to have worn a carnelian seal set in silver on the little finger of his right hand. This may help explain the appeal of carnelian in the Arab and Muslim world. Gem cutters often engrave carnelians with small prayers for luck or to turn away envy.
More details:
https://islamqa.org/shafii/qibla-sha...ive-him-peace/

So no surprise, that this gem, next to jewelry, found its way into the cold weapons. Like these 2 pics and the last one from the collection of the Met with the gem stones at the end of the chain ( but the dagger, by the look of its handle ; the winged top) might be Greek or from Crete, looking at the grip...?)

and also 3 handle / grip pics from my collection added

Title: Dagger (Yatagan) with Sheath from the Met in the USA
Date: 18th century
Culture: Balkan
Medium: Steel, ivory, silver, carnelian, ruby
Dimensions:
H. with sheath 17 1/4 in. (43.8 cm);
H. without sheath 15 5/16 in. (38.9 cm);
H. of blade 10 5/8 in. (27 cm);
W. 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm); D. 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm);
Wt. 11.4 oz. (323.2 g);
Wt. of sheath 10.2 oz (289.2 g)

Classification: Daggers
Credit Line: Bequest of Richard B. Seager, 1926
Accession Number: 26.35.4a, b

[gp]

another carnelian example;

knife in yataghan style from Crete, about 1900-1920
lenght total 26,5 cm and blade 13,5 cm