"WOW" TARZANS KNIFE!!!

[Tim Simmons]

I took it from him before he hurt himself :D Seriously I got this today at a market not so long ago I would have had no idea as to its origin but because of this great site I shall have a stab at it :eek: Pillippines? oa length 35cm blade22cm.All the stitching is brass wire.Thanks Tim.

[Bill]

nothing typical of Philippine type work

[Tim Simmons]

Thanks Bill,I have a feeling this is going to be a hard one.It is really frustrating when an origin can not be found.Tim

[Tim Simmons]

I just thought I might add that looking at this on your PC you will not be able to see that the washers in the handle, have been hand made and are not stamped out, so it only looks like western constuction.I think the blade is ground from maybe a larger knife.The only thing is the tang is thiner than the blade.I think I am sure the blade was not forged to shape.The wire stitching on the scabbard is in chain stitch.Thank you for any help.Tim

[tom hyle]

Is there a solid metal pommel, or is it metal sheets laid over the wood and rivetted down?

[Tim Simmons]

Hello Tom, the pommel has thin brass sheets nailed into each piece of wood on the handle.Thanks for looking.Tim

[ariel]

Why do I think North/North-East Africa?

[Tim Simmons]

The rivets holding the brass sheets go through the handle and not nailed as I said previously.A lot of North African Knives have been post over recent months,I just did not get that feeling.It has slight look of a modified butchers knife.I thought the wire work was possible PI like these pics.

[tom hyle]

I'm thinking Europe or Eurocolonial. Australia or maritime (ship board production) have my current vote. Is the tang abrubtly thinner than the blade, or is it tapered? This may be an old pig sticker someone replaced the scales on and made a fanced up sheath for. A pig sticker is a 2-edged dagger used to slaughter pigs (What, you thought it was always done by the "Carrie" method?). It looks like a wwII era carry piece.

[Tim Simmons]

Thats something I had not thought of,a bit like trench weapons made by the soldiers.Thats a good possiblity.

[Conogre]

That's a very interesting piece, the type that's fun to explore possibilities on and that occasionally turns out to be FAR more valuable than previously supposed.
You, of course, have the advantage in being able to see and handle it directly, but don't give up as I've had several that have taken years to make a determination on and some that are still unsolved.
I don't get the impression of a trench art piece here at all, and likewise it doesn't appear to be of tribal origin, with my suspicion being that you may have an African colonial knife from the Boer Wars or similar.
The hilting is definitely European in style, while the sheath appears to have been native stitched as is sometimes seen on overseer's knives, with the belt loop also of European style.
The pommel is somewhat curious as that has a N. African flavor to it with the brass plates riveted over the wood, although this is by no means restricted to just that region.
I think you've got an altogether original and unique piece there that was very carefully made by someone with a lot of time on their hands and careful attention to detail and possibly native assistance.
Mike

[Tim Simmons]

Thank you, I feel because the scabbard was at one time dyed purple which you can just see on your PC, is not a very macho colour for a ruffty-tuffty european type, makes the puzzle a lot harder.The blade is not abruptly thicker than the tang but at one time before grinding it must have been.Thanks for opinions.Tim

[Conogre]

Tim, keep in mind that purple, due to the difficulty in getting natural dyes that color was for centuries ONLY allowed to be worn by royalty, as far back as ancient Rome and possibly earlier.
Purple, in older African pieces using traditional dyes, was made by crushing a certain kind of scale insect, while ochres and white were earth pigments and black often charcoal or pitch.
I strongly suspect that you have the African equivelent of a trapper's or mountain man's knife from the American westward expansion era where they were often in contact with native locals moreso than other colonists and settlers, and often carrying knives that were made from trade knives and then embellished by the tribal locals as a gesture of respect.
Mike

[Tim Simmons]

Well there we are,TARZAN was a little scary,being bigger than me but I just walked straight up to him and said"Tarzan give me that Knife now! theres a good chap" he seemed to understand.Thats the way to deal with his type, firm but fair.Thanks Tim

[Conogre]

You're making light of Tarzan why again, Tim?

[Tim Simmons]

I have dug this one up again as I now suspect this is another German East African hybrid made by African soldiers in the Great War. The spear point blade with a central midrib is not a European thing but the handle is so obviously made to imitate a European military knife even though the blade is originally a European knife . The thick buffalo? leather does not seem tanned in a African tribal way either but the stitched pattern on the scabbard strikes me as having a native touch. It is the midrib that does it for me. Tim

[Tim Simmons]

Ended I have saved pics also.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230257956781&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013

The blade has the same spear point profile with triangle mid point at the forte.
WW1? any mititary collectors have more info?

[colin henshaw]

The chain stitching on the hide sheath is very like that to be found on some East African knife sheaths. Refer the knife on page 41 of Fischer & Zingibl's "African Weapons". It is given a Wahehe tribe attribution (current Tanzania, once German East Africa).

Regards

[Lew]

You're making light of Tarzan why again, Tim?


Well, look what the leopard dragged in! :eek: :D Where have you been hiding out?


Lew

[David]

Well, look what the leopard dragged in! :eek: :D Where have you been hiding out?


Lew
I, as well Lew, was also pleased to see a picture of "Tarzan" Mike today, but alas, Mike's post was from March of 2005. :rolleyes:
:eek: HEY MIKE! ARE YOU OUT THERE! :D

[ausjulius]

I took it from him before he hurt himself :D Seriously I got this today at a market not so long ago I would have had no idea as to its origin but because of this great site I shall have a stab at it :eek: Pillippines? oa length 35cm blade22cm.All the stitching is brass wire.Thanks Tim.
most likely a french product from the 19th centuary.........

[Tim Simmons]

Now that I have more of this sort of thing. I am sure that it is not made from a European knife but African forged. I do not see an immediate French inspiration, German yes.

Colin, I do not have this book could you post page 41?

[Freddy]

Here it is, Tim

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Hehe-knife.jpg

[Tim Simmons]

Thanks Freddy. That brass stitching does look very similar indeed.

[colin henshaw]

Tim,

Regret I don't have a decent digital camera at the moment, but another forum member is on the ball.

A very interesting group of colonial cross-cultural material...

Regards.

[Tim Simmons]

Very kind of you to say so Colin. I forgot this one which I now believe is from the same stable or there abouts.

Wahehe/Hehe all very interesting-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hehe