Mysterious knife number 2

Jim McDougall · 22nd July 2015, 12:53 AM

I agree with Stu's note observing the baldric type suspension rings on one of the brass scabbards, suggesting of course, Maghreb potential in degree. The inscriptions and overall character and quality very nice!
In post #6, note the Albacete type piercing in the blade, and seeming assortment of influences in overall components, possibly Spanish colonies in Morocco? and this seems to have good age to it.

Basically many ethnographic forms of more modern (latter 19th c, onward into 20th) knives reflect influences from various places across North Africa and into Middle East in curiously contrived hybrids. While typically quite attractive they well illustrate the futility of trying to classify these regionally as a rule.

In classifying these kinds of weapons, it is usually best to describe them as accurately as possible while adding qualifying influences which might add to origin. When the classification 'tourist' is reluctantly considered in some items, the diffusion of these through commercial channels is difficult to imagine in scope.

22nd July 2015, 12:53 AM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,800	I agree with Stu's note observing the baldric type suspension rings on one of the brass scabbards, suggesting of course, Maghreb potential in degree. The inscriptions and overall character and quality very nice! In post #6, note the Albacete type piercing in the blade, and seeming assortment of influences in overall components, possibly Spanish colonies in Morocco? and this seems to have good age to it. Basically many ethnographic forms of more modern (latter 19th c, onward into 20th) knives reflect influences from various places across North Africa and into Middle East in curiously contrived hybrids. While typically quite attractive they well illustrate the futility of trying to classify these regionally as a rule. In classifying these kinds of weapons, it is usually best to describe them as accurately as possible while adding qualifying influences which might add to origin. When the classification 'tourist' is reluctantly considered in some items, the diffusion of these through commercial channels is difficult to imagine in scope.