Three in one
This is a vintage knife that combines 3 known (?) areas. Let me describe it.
The blade looks like the Trabzon knifes. But it has lot of fullers, some in strange directions and it is heavy engraved both sides and inlaid with silver. Also there is a date 1201 on it. 1787 in Georgian calendar.
If the date is true, the scabbard with the Caucasian style niello must be later.
But there is also niello in the hilt. And the hilt has the shape of a Montenegro knife!
To make the puzzle more interesting there is the engraving of a man holding a kilij and a flintlock rifle. My first thought is that of a Pontic knife. I knew that Pontians used to wear Trabzon knifes and kindjals in early 20th century but I have never seen anything like this before. Any idea is welcome.
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