Knife ID help needed

[ggoudie]

Hi guys , I could do with your help with this one .My guess is spanish or the med region .

[katana]

Sorry, cant help with the ID, but what an unusual knife.....very interesting.

[kronckew]

the grip design reminds me of the canary knife:
http://www.grancanaria.com/patronato_turismo/uploads/pics/cuchillo.jpg
tho the blade shape is a bit different than modern ones, looks spanish/corsican - possibly italian? not my area of expertise or the area i collect in, but the grip appeared very distinctive.

[Ian]

I think Marc will be able to help you. The hilt does resemble Spanish style hilts of the 19th C., and that would be my best guess. Italian of the same period might be another possibility.

The blade seems to have been cut down at some time -- perhaps a repair to a broken blade.

Ian.

[Marc]

Spanish, from the city of Albacete, 19th. c, maybe late 18th.
This may perfectly be the original shape of the blade, by the way. But, if modified, the etching in the blade should tell, by being cut abruptly in mid-design. I would risk to say it isn't, although.

[Chris Evans]

Hi ggoudie,

Hi guys , I could do with your help with this one .My guess is spanish or the med region .

Nice and unusual piece. As Marc said, definitely Spanish and most likely from Albacete. The handle and the "forro", that is the riveted copper liners attached to the blade are dead give-aways. The etching strongly suggests that it was made as a souvenir/display piece.

Cheers
Chris

[Jay Jay]

I think this is the original shape. I have a very similar piece, and it seems unlikely that they both have been cut down in this way. I've been told that it's from Andalusia, but I don't really know anything about these knives.

[ggoudie]

Well done Jay they are so alike it may be the same maker ,any idea of age ?
I think mine has some age to it .

[Jay Jay]

A bayonet collector told me that it's probably from 1800-1850. I don't remember who that guy was, so I can't ask him what he based the age on.