Unusual Balkan? Dagger

Atlantia · 24th July 2010, 07:33 PM

Thought you gentlemen might like to see this one. I'm assuming its balkan, but the handle has an almost caucus look to it. Scabbard has a leather cover which if you look closely you can see the outlines of the steel mounts top and bottom through the leather:

Lew · 25th July 2010, 01:29 AM

This does not strike me as Balkin seems Greek maybe Crete? Still I really like it.

Congrats

Atlantia · 25th July 2010, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew

This does not strike me as Balkin seems Greek maybe Crete? Still I really like it.

Congrats

Hi Lew
Thanks mate, I do like it

The handle shape has me puzzled a bit. I'd even considered Russian.
Best
Gene

Devadatta · 25th July 2010, 07:43 AM

Hello,

100% not Russian

I also think that's Cretan

Atlantia · 25th July 2010, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devadatta

Hello,

100% not Russian

I also think that's Cretan

LOL, I did say I'd 'considered' it

But why Crete? Isn't the hilt form wrong?

Lew · 25th July 2010, 02:29 PM

Actually this is not from crete looking at the small studs on the hilt and that tiny brass sleeve by the choil I think this could be Bosnian?

eftihis · 26th July 2010, 12:01 AM

Hallo friends,
As you can see from the photos bellow, this is a Greek knife. (not from Crete, but from mainland Greece).
These are fairly common knifes made untill recently, yet this kind of handle is atypical, (maybe a makers experiment or a creative inovation inspired from balkan "kamas".)
The first knife in the group photo has exactry the same design on blade as the one we are discussing. (photo n5)
The metal studs decoration exists in bosnian knifes, but is a simple kind of decoration that was obviously used in other places, like is happening with other simple kind of designs, like circles with dots etc...
The 6th photo has a stamped manufacturers name who is "Pourikas Larissa".
"Pourikas" is the makers name and "Larissa" the main city of the Thessalia area in the middle part of Greece. And searching the makers name in this city's telephone directory, it came out as "Pourikas E. cutting tools" ... Propably the maker's son or grandson.
In the 7th photo, the "Made in Greece" inscription is self explanatory...
Finally, the 8th photo has an example with the the date 1934 on it.
Judging from the scabbard, i would say that your knife was made after the war, arround 1950s-1960s.
Regards to all!

Atlantia · 26th July 2010, 12:16 AM

Eftihis
Thank you

Thats a nice selection that you have there.
The top one in your pictures (with the same blade) also shares the steel top and bottom to the scabbard that mine has. Is it possible that some of yours started out with leather covers too?

eftihis · 26th July 2010, 12:23 AM

Hi Atlantia, the ones i have, have all their original scabbards. (They look to have the same age as the knife), and it seems that this was the way they made them. But ofcourse a customer can ask a knife maker to make something different if he likes.

Atlantia · 26th July 2010, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eftihis

Hi Atlantia, the ones i have, have all their original scabbards. (They look to have the same age as the knife), and it seems that this was the way they made them. But ofcourse a customer can ask a knife maker to make something different if he likes.

You can see why the hilt totally threw me off of the scent here

Is it possible that it represents a specific area of manufacture, or do you think it is definately just an 'oddity' with no great relevance?
Thanks again for your help

Also Kudos to Lew, who nailed it straight off and Devadatta who came in close with Crete.

Atlantia · 7th August 2010, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eftihis

Hallo friends,
As you can see from the photos bellow, this is a Greek knife. (not from Crete, but from mainland Greece).
These are fairly common knifes made untill recently, yet this kind of handle is atypical, (maybe a makers experiment or a creative inovation inspired from balkan "kamas".)
The first knife in the group photo has exactry the same design on blade as the one we are discussing. (photo n5)
The metal studs decoration exists in bosnian knifes, but is a simple kind of decoration that was obviously used in other places, like is happening with other simple kind of designs, like circles with dots etc...
The 6th photo has a stamped manufacturers name who is "Pourikas Larissa".
"Pourikas" is the makers name and "Larissa" the main city of the Thessalia area in the middle part of Greece. And searching the makers name in this city's telephone directory, it came out as "Pourikas E. cutting tools" ... Propably the maker's son or grandson.
In the 7th photo, the "Made in Greece" inscription is self explanatory...
Finally, the 8th photo has an example with the the date 1934 on it.
Judging from the scabbard, i would say that your knife was made after the war, arround 1950s-1960s.
Regards to all!

Hello again Eftihis,

I've been considering your collection, and a question occurred to me.
What is the length range of the ones you have pictured? The proportions seem a little different from mine and I'm curious.
Thanks
Gene

eftihis · 26th July 2010, 01:09 AM

I dont know if it is oddity, but i know is not the majority...
But in Greece as in Balkans also, we had the variations of "kinjal" type handle in many designs.

Atlantia · 26th July 2010, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eftihis

I dont know if it is oddity, but i know is not the majority...
But in Greece as in Balkans also, we had the variations of "kinjal" type handle in many designs.

Those are great! I love the fish emblem too.
Well, that explains the caucus style hilt.
Brilliant, thanks again

Do these have a specific name in Greek?

Also.... The leather of the scabbard has a distincly WW2 'feel' to it... if that makes any sense? It feels 'about that age', also the belt loop is about 6cm, like it was to fit a wide 'army' style belt.
Do you think that there is any chance that this could be from that era?

eftihis · 26th July 2010, 01:50 AM

We call them "ka'mas".
"ka'ma" is the word for one, "κa'mas" the plural.

Atlantia · 26th July 2010, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eftihis

We call them "kamas"

Brilliant!

24th July 2010, 07:33 PM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Unusual Balkan? Dagger Thought you gentlemen might like to see this one. I'm assuming its balkan, but the handle has an almost caucus look to it. Scabbard has a leather cover which if you look closely you can see the outlines of the steel mounts top and bottom through the leather: Last edited by Atlantia; 24th July 2010 at 07:51 PM.

26th July 2010, 12:01 AM	#7
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 512	Its Greek! Hallo friends, As you can see from the photos bellow, this is a Greek knife. (not from Crete, but from mainland Greece). These are fairly common knifes made untill recently, yet this kind of handle is atypical, (maybe a makers experiment or a creative inovation inspired from balkan "kamas".) The first knife in the group photo has exactry the same design on blade as the one we are discussing. (photo n5) The metal studs decoration exists in bosnian knifes, but is a simple kind of decoration that was obviously used in other places, like is happening with other simple kind of designs, like circles with dots etc... The 6th photo has a stamped manufacturers name who is "Pourikas Larissa". "Pourikas" is the makers name and "Larissa" the main city of the Thessalia area in the middle part of Greece. And searching the makers name in this city's telephone directory, it came out as "Pourikas E. cutting tools" ... Propably the maker's son or grandson. In the 7th photo, the "Made in Greece" inscription is self explanatory... Finally, the 8th photo has an example with the the date 1934 on it. Judging from the scabbard, i would say that your knife was made after the war, arround 1950s-1960s. Regards to all! Attached Images Last edited by eftihis; 26th July 2010 at 07:42 AM.

26th July 2010, 01:09 AM	#12
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 512	I dont know if it is oddity, but i know is not the majority... But in Greece as in Balkans also, we had the variations of "kinjal" type handle in many designs. Attached Images

26th July 2010, 01:50 AM	#14
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 512	We call them "ka'mas". "ka'ma" is the word for one, "κa'mas" the plural. Last edited by eftihis; 26th July 2010 at 07:40 AM.

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25th July 2010, 01:29 AM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	This does not strike me as Balkin seems Greek maybe Crete? Still I really like it. Congrats

25th July 2010, 07:43 AM	#4
Devadatta Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 118	Hello, 100% not Russian I also think that's Cretan

25th July 2010, 02:29 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Actually this is not from crete looking at the small studs on the hilt and that tiny brass sleeve by the choil I think this could be Bosnian?

26th July 2010, 12:16 AM	#8
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Eftihis Thank you Thats a nice selection that you have there. The top one in your pictures (with the same blade) also shares the steel top and bottom to the scabbard that mine has. Is it possible that some of yours started out with leather covers too?

26th July 2010, 12:23 AM	#9
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 512	Hi Atlantia, the ones i have, have all their original scabbards. (They look to have the same age as the knife), and it seems that this was the way they made them. But ofcourse a customer can ask a knife maker to make something different if he likes.