Ethnographic folding knives - Page 4

Sajen · 17th January 2019, 10:15 AM

Want to keep this most interesting thread alive!

My vintage German Solingen automatics, from left to right:

1. Herbertz in Italian style
2. Robert Klaas leverlock
3. Wilhelm Weltersbach Waidmannsheil leverlock
4. Böker Treebrand leverlock

Enjoy!

Sajen · 17th January 2019, 10:33 AM

And what many people don't may know, in Germany/Solingen were produced in old times balisongs. It's not mine, they are forbidden in Germany since 2003 because teenager were playing with them in public and older people were afraid by this. It's a Henry Kaufmann. Early 20th century until middle 20th century would be my age guess.

Hombre · 27th August 2019, 12:39 PM

Sajen wrote: "Want to keep this most interesting thread alive!"
Me too!

I have most newly made knives of this category but here are some of my vintage ones.... Sorry for the bad picture!

Best,
Stefan
Sweden

ausjulius · 3rd September 2019, 04:04 PM

some russian prison made knvies being sold. prices are... fantastic for such things.. but they are many examples..

RobT · 19th September 2019, 12:57 AM

Hi All,

Would anyone like to hazard a guess as to the origin of this little folding knife. Overall the knife measures about 5.625" (about 14.25cm). There is no lock. The knife is opened and held open by the little loop at the back of the blade. The cutting edge is on the incurve. The little indentations near the spine apparently serve as a nail nick. The hilt is entirely brass and is composed of five pieces. The body of the hilt is a single piece of brass that has been folded to contain the blade. That fold continues all the way along the loop at the back of the hilt. There are two circular bosses on either side of the hilt body and the pivot pin runs through them. This knife is for light duty only. The Asian version of a pen knife perhaps?

Sincerely,
RobT

Martin Lubojacky · 19th September 2019, 09:34 PM

Not my field, but - I was told in China they used simillar (concave) knives for tonsure. But it could be any country from Iran to the east (?)

fernando · 19th September 2019, 09:54 PM

A rather cute piece, it is

.

RobT · 20th September 2019, 03:36 AM

Martin,
Thanks for the response. I did two searches. In the first search (Chinese tonsure knife), everything I saw was pretty straight or electric. With the second search (antique tonsure knife) I did find a very nice antique tonsure scissor and knife set from Bangkok Thailand. The set was made for royalty and had a lot of gold on it. The knife was slightly back curved.

Fernando,
Thanks for the complement. I agree, it is very cute.

Sincerely,
RobT

Rick · 20th September 2019, 03:40 AM

Could this have been for cutting the betel nut; or are they too hard to use something like this on.

kronckew · 20th September 2019, 09:16 AM

Looks like a pruning knife. Similar small ones are used in scoring opium poppies & collecting the head later to get the seeds for next years crop. I recall seeing similar decorations on blades from northeast India near Burma.

fernando · 20th September 2019, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

... Looks like a pruning knife. Similar small ones are used in scoring opium poppies & collecting the head later to get the seeds for next years crop...

Makes sense, incurved edge and all.

Prasanna Weerakkody · 16th June 2020, 06:55 AM

A collection of folding Knives 17th -18th Century from the Kandy Museum Sri Lanka.

fernando · 17th June 2020, 11:57 AM

Very nice examples, Prasanna

Gonzoadler · 30th July 2020, 09:26 PM

An old spanish Navaja:

Gonzoadler · 30th July 2020, 09:30 PM

And inspired by it, a modern knife made by Carl Julius Herbertz:

17th January 2019, 10:15 AM	#91
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Want to keep this most interesting thread alive! My vintage German Solingen automatics, from left to right: 1. Herbertz in Italian style 2. Robert Klaas leverlock 3. Wilhelm Weltersbach Waidmannsheil leverlock 4. Böker Treebrand leverlock Enjoy! Attached Images

17th January 2019, 10:33 AM	#92
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	And what many people don't may know, in Germany/Solingen were produced in old times balisongs. It's not mine, they are forbidden in Germany since 2003 because teenager were playing with them in public and older people were afraid by this. It's a Henry Kaufmann. Early 20th century until middle 20th century would be my age guess. Attached Images Last edited by Sajen; 17th January 2019 at 10:47 AM.

27th August 2019, 12:39 PM	#93
Hombre Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 232	Sajen wrote: "Want to keep this most interesting thread alive!" Me too! I have most newly made knives of this category but here are some of my vintage ones.... Sorry for the bad picture! Best, Stefan Sweden Attached Images

3rd September 2019, 04:04 PM	#94
ausjulius Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: musorian territory Posts: 424	some russian prison made knvies being sold. prices are... fantastic for such things.. but they are many examples.. Last edited by Rick; 19th September 2019 at 01:29 AM. Reason: commercial link

19th September 2019, 12:57 AM	#95
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 493	Unknown Folder Origin Hi All, Would anyone like to hazard a guess as to the origin of this little folding knife. Overall the knife measures about 5.625" (about 14.25cm). There is no lock. The knife is opened and held open by the little loop at the back of the blade. The cutting edge is on the incurve. The little indentations near the spine apparently serve as a nail nick. The hilt is entirely brass and is composed of five pieces. The body of the hilt is a single piece of brass that has been folded to contain the blade. That fold continues all the way along the loop at the back of the hilt. There are two circular bosses on either side of the hilt body and the pivot pin runs through them. This knife is for light duty only. The Asian version of a pen knife perhaps? Sincerely, RobT Attached Images

19th September 2019, 09:34 PM	#96
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Not my field, but - I was told in China they used simillar (concave) knives for tonsure. But it could be any country from Iran to the east (?)

19th September 2019, 09:54 PM	#97
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A rather cute piece, it is .

20th September 2019, 03:36 AM	#98
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 493	Tonsure Search Martin, Thanks for the response. I did two searches. In the first search (Chinese tonsure knife), everything I saw was pretty straight or electric. With the second search (antique tonsure knife) I did find a very nice antique tonsure scissor and knife set from Bangkok Thailand. The set was made for royalty and had a lot of gold on it. The knife was slightly back curved. Fernando, Thanks for the complement. I agree, it is very cute. Sincerely, RobT

20th September 2019, 03:40 AM	#99
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Could this have been for cutting the betel nut; or are they too hard to use something like this on.

20th September 2019, 09:16 AM	#100
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	Looks like a pruning knife. Similar small ones are used in scoring opium poppies & collecting the head later to get the seeds for next years crop. I recall seeing similar decorations on blades from northeast India near Burma.

16th June 2020, 06:55 AM	#102
Prasanna Weerakkody Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 52	A collection of folding Knives 17th -18th Century from the Kandy Museum Sri Lanka. Attached Images

17th June 2020, 11:57 AM	#103
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Very nice examples, Prasanna

30th July 2020, 09:26 PM	#104
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	An old spanish Navaja: Attached Images

30th July 2020, 09:30 PM	#105
Gonzoadler Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Germany Posts: 244	And inspired by it, a modern knife made by Carl Julius Herbertz: Attached Images