Would you call this a small Machete ... or not ?

[Gavin Nugent]

Looks a lot like a "No Spin" vintage throwing knife to me, but at 18 inches, one would have to ask why? Many vintage throwing knives share this handle profile though.

If a Machete, it looks simple, robust and practical enough, but why 6" long grip when 4" would suffice and offer better reach and fulcrum point... the grip does not look practical for a machete application.

The length falls around a Smatchet length, being used for chopping and thrusting, which the blade shape provides, but typically these also have a short handle and a Bolo type blade.

The handle profile also reminds me a lot of the old French made "Navaja", made for local and export markets, many contracted by Spanish guilds.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Gavin Nugent

... Looks a lot like a "No Spin" vintage throwing knife to me, but at 18 inches, one would have to ask why? Many vintage throwing knives share this handle profile though....

Thank you Gavin. Throwing knives can be rather long, specially those 'no spin' ones used in circus.
Still i doubt this is the case, as its point is not symmetrical, wile (human) target throwing blades must be.
See the one i once owned, that was considered a circus example. Its length is 35 cms., but it goes longer, when having its wooden grip.
On the other hand, the 'bowie' type tip in the discussed example must point to something.

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[Rick]

Could this be a Fishmonger's chopper?
It would be handy for taking the head and tail off a smaller Tuna such as a Bonito.

Butcher's knife 17.5 inches oa.
Similar blade profile and point.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Rick

Could this be a Fishmonger's chopper?
It would be handy for taking the head and tail off a smaller Tuna such as a Bonito.

I don't know what to say, Rick; only that, although this is an 'unexpected' suggestion, i can not reject it, as plausible; the throw is right, as is the weight.
Meanwhile i decided to give it a soft clean.


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[milandro]

there has to be a very specific reason to make a forged integral hilt for a knife, it is makes it very heavy and it uses a lot of steel which in times past was an expensive commodity.

The throwing knife had crossed my mind . Maybe there are other uses to a throwing knife than just create a recreational thrill.

[fernando]

Perspective noted, milandro .

[Jerseyman]

Perhaps it might be a 19C circus throwing knife? Performance throwing knives are made deliberately larger to be seen at a distance. The form seems right for that function...

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Rick

Could this be a Fishmonger's chopper?
It would be handy for taking the head and tail off a smaller Tuna such as a Bonito.

Butcher's knife 17.5 inches oa.
Similar blade profile and point.

Butcher's or fishmonger's, Rick ?. This new picture is convincing .

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by fernando

Butcher's or fishmonger's, Rick ?. This new picture is convincing .

I struggle with the notion... fish handling is s slippery business and a cold business... I feel something on that ilk would have a larger warmer timber grip with a pommel end of hook larger than the grip for safer handling too....

[Rick]

Hi Gavin, I threw that out there mainly because the profile was similar to the knife that Fernando has shown. The length is about the same, the scales are wood and are certainly thicker than the subject example. The knife I posted is a Dexter, probably late 19century made in my home state.
Fernando's example appears to have metal scales (or are they integral) which makes for a much thinner handle, and probably makes it more awkward to use for cutting but the blade profile seems more like a butcher/fish cutter's knife. I searched ebay for fish cutting and butcher's knives and I found that the modern Dexter knives have a textured handle, but for the most part none of them seemed to have a thickening or knob at the end.
Fernando, is the tip of this knife thicker than the rest of the blade?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Rick

... Fernando's example appears to have metal scales (or are they integral) which makes for a much thinner handle ...

Integral steeel handle.

Originally Posted by Rick

...Fernando, is the tip of this knife thicker than the rest of the blade?

No; same thickness as that of the forte.

Hereunder some more specs.


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[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you Gavin. Throwing knives can be rather long, specially those 'no spin' ones used in circus.
Still i doubt this is the case, as its point is not symmetrical, wile (human) target throwing blades must be.
See the one i once owned, that was considered a circus example. Its length is 35 cms., but it goes longer, when having its wooden grip.
On the other hand, the 'bowie' type tip in the discussed example must point to something.

.

There is a large misconception that throwing knives must be symmetrical.

https://blademag.com/knife-collectin...-knives-tested

The same pattern seen in the top knife is also seen in vintage examples too.

Originally Posted by fernando

Milandro and Jerseyman, still the form is not right for a throwing knife. Look at the tip; the thrower would not risk to lose direction showing off with that bowie (non symmetric) head and perforate the human target.

A little looking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tW4fDMn251c