Cossack knife ? any informations ?

[francantolin]

Hello,

I just bought this old knife.
The seller called it a cossack boot-knife but I'm really not sure :
the stamp on the blade K. Marggraf Riga is the name from a 19th-early 20th century fabric of surgery blades in Riga , Latvia...

I found the shape of the blade really original and interesting.

Any idea of the (old) use of such a knife ?

Thank you !!

[Andrew]

Not a "cossack" knife. A variation of kard.

[spiral]

I can see from scabbard that its intended to be carried , but could it have originally been an amputation knife? Many have similar shaped blades.

spiral

[francantolin]

Hello,

Thank you both for your answer.

It is possible to be an amputation knife because the factory was selling surgery material...
Brrr wasn't looking for that when I bought it !

Prefer the kard idea !! :)

[ariel]

The answer is somewhat unexpected: it is a Latvian (Riga) knife for .... cutting flax:-)
Seriously.
Quite sme time ago I asked the same question on a Russian forum and was enlightened with other examples, pics from a museum in Riga etc.

The form is so "oriental" and "vicious", that one easily gets confused. But in reality, it is just a very peaceful agricultural/industrial implement.
Happy New Year!

[Oliver Pinchot]

You nailed it, Ariel.
Happy New Year, all

[francantolin]

A vegetable killer knife !!

Thank you.
Good idea, I'll try in eastern Europa forums for other informations.

Interesting comment Pinnchot !

Happy New Year Everybody !!