what is this ?

[gp]

so it arrived today, cleaned some dirt and had a good look.
This horn handle is not as dark as the Ottoman horn you see in the Balkans or what you call present day Turkey; that looks close to more black.
This horn is more darkis brown when you look close at it,
As the seller's description was correct: the ferrule and star or flowerlike ornaments on the handle / grip are silver.
The 2 pieces of the handle / grip have a red metal in between them, ending into the ferrule: copper/bronze?

So hope this helps you forum member with your determination on its age ...

[Ren Ren]

I will cautiously assume - the first third of the 20th century.

[gp]

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

I will cautiously assume - the first third of the 20th century.

Thank you very much!
So that would place it around the transition of the Emirate / Buxoro amirligi to the Bukharan PSR or perhaps a decade later the Uzbek SSR.

[Ren Ren]

This knife shape and style of decoration took place throughout the 20th century. But silver in the USSR was used in accordance with strict rules - the state assay mark was required. Therefore, I assume that the knife was made before such rules took effect in the Uzbek SSR.

[Saracen]

Originally Posted by Ren Ren

This knife shape and style of decoration took place throughout the 20th century. But silver in the USSR was used in accordance with strict rules - the state assay mark was required. Therefore, I assume that the knife was made before such rules took effect in the Uzbek SSR.

I agree, but with one caveat
specifically this shape of the blade with a raised tip has its own name: Kayiki pchak (not sure if the transliteration is correct)

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by gp

Thank you very much!
So that would place it around the transition of the Emirate / Buxoro amirligi to the Bukharan PSR or perhaps a decade later the Uzbek SSR.

An excellent knife for the late 19th century. Here is a similar one from the collection of the Danish ethnographer Ole Olufsen from the expedition to Bukhara in the 1890s

[gp]

thank you gents! very interesting info which made me more than curious....
I found also mentioning that this type of pchak was used by not only Uzbeks but also Uigurs.
An interesting site with very very beautiful pchaks and also containing very useful info :
https://biserochek.ru/en/krasota/vid...-pchakov-nozh/

[mahratt]

Originally Posted by gp

thank you gents! very interesting info which made me more than curious....
I found also mentioning that this type of pchak was used by not only Uzbeks but also Uigurs.
An interesting site with very very beautiful pchaks and also containing very useful info :
https://biserochek.ru/en/krasota/vid...-pchakov-nozh/

The link contains modern knives that have nothing to do with the samples of knives of the late 19th - early 20th century...

[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by mahratt

The link contains modern knives that have nothing to do with the samples of knives of the late 19th - early 20th century...

Well, I think that some of the modern knives are definitely inspired by the antique ones. Especially if you scroll down the page you may see some modern knives very similar to the old ones.

Also the site provides some interesting information about the anatomy and decoration of the knives.

[gp]

Originally Posted by mahratt

The link contains modern knives that have nothing to do with the samples of knives of the late 19th - early 20th century...

it is actually very unfortunately the fate of many traditions and craftsmanship...

the reason why I liked the link is the fact it gave me some information as I was total ignorant of ( the beauty of) cold weapons from that region, although I have quite some knowledge on the region's history and architectural masterpieces.
And looking at the design of tiles of some historic building, one can recognize that quality has also been transferred into some of the ornaments of the cold weapons.