South American bowie??

Sajen · Yesterday, 05:41 PM

Today I won, in my opinion, a very interesting knife. It's 34 cm long with a blade from 22,5 cm. On the spine side it's sharpened near the tip.
Mexican? Another Middle or South American origin? Any thoughts about its origin?

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 07:38 PM

Fascinating example!!!
This looks like a kinds of knives and edged weapons from Southern Mexico, Oaxaca in particular, where such weapons have long been produced. The scabbard etc. are notably similar to known examples.
The term 'Bowie' is of course collectively used to describe large frontier knives from 19th century America which gained popularity accordingly into Mexico.
Extremely nice one!!!!

Sajen · Yesterday, 10:16 PM

Hi Jim,

Thank you very much for your comment and for confirming my guess that it's a possible Mexican knife. I did a little bit of online research after your hint regarding Oaxaca, the knives shown are very similar, especially the pommel and the inlaid handle horn scales. But the pommels by the found examples show mostly an eagle instead of a horse and most of the blades show etchings. And the leather scabbards are less fancy.

Regards,
Detlef

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 11:44 PM

You're right Detlef, mostly the eagle was used as it has to do with the Mexican national symbol, but horse heads were known, just not as common. The blades also were usually engraved with dichos (sayings and phrases) but as with everything, there are many exceptions.

Scabbards also are often very personal, and often charros, who are Mexican 'cowboys' customized gear and trappings. Flamboyance is very much in the Mexican character, and they are a most colorful people.

Yesterday, 05:41 PM	#1
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,238	South American bowie?? Today I won, in my opinion, a very interesting knife. It's 34 cm long with a blade from 22,5 cm. On the spine side it's sharpened near the tip. Mexican? Another Middle or South American origin? Any thoughts about its origin? Attached Images

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Yesterday, 07:38 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,342	Fascinating example!!! This looks like a kinds of knives and edged weapons from Southern Mexico, Oaxaca in particular, where such weapons have long been produced. The scabbard etc. are notably similar to known examples. The term 'Bowie' is of course collectively used to describe large frontier knives from 19th century America which gained popularity accordingly into Mexico. Extremely nice one!!!!

Yesterday, 10:16 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,238	Hi Jim, Thank you very much for your comment and for confirming my guess that it's a possible Mexican knife. I did a little bit of online research after your hint regarding Oaxaca, the knives shown are very similar, especially the pommel and the inlaid handle horn scales. But the pommels by the found examples show mostly an eagle instead of a horse and most of the blades show etchings. And the leather scabbards are less fancy. Regards, Detlef

Yesterday, 11:44 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,342	You're right Detlef, mostly the eagle was used as it has to do with the Mexican national symbol, but horse heads were known, just not as common. The blades also were usually engraved with dichos (sayings and phrases) but as with everything, there are many exceptions. Scabbards also are often very personal, and often charros, who are Mexican 'cowboys' customized gear and trappings. Flamboyance is very much in the Mexican character, and they are a most colorful people.