Mystery Knife-HELP!

Aurangzeb · 20th March 2007, 02:08 AM

Hello All!

I bought this knife off Artzi. He identified that it might be Medditeranean(?). It is relatvely small but is good quality. It has 1937 scribbed into the blade. I hope that the belt hanging device will give some clue as too where it is from. All comments are welcome!

Mark...

Aurangzeb · 21st March 2007, 02:34 AM

no thoughts?

RhysMichael · 21st March 2007, 02:36 AM

I like it but I have no ideas on its origin..... sorry

Emanuel · 21st March 2007, 05:17 AM

Hello Mark,

The pendants looks like Touareg - or at least Berber - jewellery, so Mediterranean is possible. The blade looks very odd though. The scales of the grip have a one-sided rivet, and what with the brass guard and ferrule, the whole looks like some modern Indian daggers seen on ebay once in a while

. I will post some pics tomorrow if I find them.

Regards,
Emanuel

spiral · 21st March 2007, 08:34 PM

Scabbard & handle look like pataned, dirty or lightly dyed European beech...

Spiral

Lew · 21st March 2007, 08:53 PM

It looks like it could be North African but the knife itself seems to have been reshaped/recycled from a European chefs knife?

Lew

Justin · 22nd March 2007, 01:01 AM

My first thought was that the blade looks just like a fillet knife,but with the way the handle/tang is constructed I'm not sure that is the case.

The brass work that the sheath hangs from seems North African to me as well but I don't think that alone is enough to place the whole piece.Congrats on a very unique piece,hopefully someone will be able to give you some more specific info on it.

Pukka Bundook · 22nd March 2007, 02:31 PM

It reminds me rather of a Finnish filleting knife.

I'm sure both the handle and the sheath are European beech, but who knows where it started it's travells!?!
It does look rather useful....

Aurangzeb · 26th March 2007, 05:33 PM

The only marking on the blade is 1937 and a small floral scroll on either end of the year. It does resemble a fillet knife now that you mention it but the blade is sort of think to be kitchen implement even though it might have started out as one. The tassals do look North Africa but the two longest tassals are actually belt loops. I did not think belts were in widespread use in North Africa until recently. could it be Maltese or Sicilian?

Mark...

Flavio · 26th March 2007, 06:05 PM

Hi Mark, from pictures, but maybe I see wrong, the metal parts on the scabbard seem to not fit with the patination that is lighter around them???

Aurangzeb · 26th March 2007, 06:25 PM

Hello Flavio!

All the patination matches but some pots are worn lighter by continuous wearing like on the pair of belt loops.

Mark...

20th March 2007, 02:08 AM	#1
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Mystery Knife-HELP! Hello All! I bought this knife off Artzi. He identified that it might be Medditeranean(?). It is relatvely small but is good quality. It has 1937 scribbed into the blade. I hope that the belt hanging device will give some clue as too where it is from. All comments are welcome! Mark... Attached Images

21st March 2007, 02:34 AM	#2
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	no thoughts?

21st March 2007, 02:36 AM	#3
RhysMichael Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 520	I like it but I have no ideas on its origin..... sorry

21st March 2007, 05:17 AM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello Mark, The pendants looks like Touareg - or at least Berber - jewellery, so Mediterranean is possible. The blade looks very odd though. The scales of the grip have a one-sided rivet, and what with the brass guard and ferrule, the whole looks like some modern Indian daggers seen on ebay once in a while . I will post some pics tomorrow if I find them. Regards, Emanuel

21st March 2007, 08:34 PM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Scabbard & handle look like pataned, dirty or lightly dyed European beech... Spiral

21st March 2007, 08:53 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	It looks like it could be North African but the knife itself seems to have been reshaped/recycled from a European chefs knife? Lew

22nd March 2007, 01:01 AM	#7
Justin Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 175	My first thought was that the blade looks just like a fillet knife,but with the way the handle/tang is constructed I'm not sure that is the case. The brass work that the sheath hangs from seems North African to me as well but I don't think that alone is enough to place the whole piece.Congrats on a very unique piece,hopefully someone will be able to give you some more specific info on it.

22nd March 2007, 02:31 PM	#8
Pukka Bundook Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 803	It reminds me rather of a Finnish filleting knife. I'm sure both the handle and the sheath are European beech, but who knows where it started it's travells!?! It does look rather useful....

26th March 2007, 05:33 PM	#9
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	The only marking on the blade is 1937 and a small floral scroll on either end of the year. It does resemble a fillet knife now that you mention it but the blade is sort of think to be kitchen implement even though it might have started out as one. The tassals do look North Africa but the two longest tassals are actually belt loops. I did not think belts were in widespread use in North Africa until recently. could it be Maltese or Sicilian? Mark...

26th March 2007, 06:05 PM	#10
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hi Mark, from pictures, but maybe I see wrong, the metal parts on the scabbard seem to not fit with the patination that is lighter around them???

26th March 2007, 06:25 PM	#11
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello Flavio! All the patination matches but some pots are worn lighter by continuous wearing like on the pair of belt loops. Mark...