opinion on this knife

[laEspadaAncha]

Originally Posted by Henk

My first guess is a gaucho knive.

That was my initial reaction too, though from other posts preceding this one, it appears it most likely is not.

What about the linear engraving above the top line of script? Seems almost crude (as does the design work on the hilt IMO) - electric engraver, maybe? It would seem if it was done by hand, the top and bottom (engraved) lines would be more similar than they are - as it is, the bottom line looks like one continuous line, while the top line looks sporadic and 'choppy'...

[fernando]

Here i am; better late than ever ... but with no helpful input, though .
I wouldn't reject the idea that it belongs to the Spanish universe; Mediterranean, like Chris feels.
Impossible (at least for me) to discern what is in the text; i don't have cataracts but glaucoma, instead .
Probably is one of these things you can only figure out at naked eye; sometimes pictures are frustrating .
Fernando

[Tim Simmons]

Originally Posted by laEspadaAncha

That was my initial reaction too, though from other posts preceding this one, it appears it most likely is not.

What about the linear engraving above the top line of script? Seems almost crude (as does the design work on the hilt IMO) - electric engraver, maybe? It would seem if it was done by hand, the top and bottom (engraved) lines would be more similar than they are - as it is, the bottom line looks like one continuous line, while the top line looks sporadic and 'choppy'...

You are right this is engraving by a hand held peddle or electric tool. It could be turn of the 19/20century. My dentist in the early 1960s had electric motors but the stuff was all belt driven.

[fernando]

A text dedicated to english speaking tourists ?
Naaaah

[junker]

Hi,
i guess it may be german in a old way of handwriting called sütalin.
I cant read it in this pictures.
Last night will be "... nicht" which means ... not.
The first word is "Mein" = mine
If i get better pictures i can show it to my parents, perhaps they can read it.
regards
Dirk

[ingelred]

Hello,

junker is right, this is an old German or Austrian knife, which may have been once part of a wagoner's cutlery.
In this case the other parts would have been a matching fork, a spoon made of either wood or horn and probably a sharpening steel.
This kind of cutery was used in Germany and Austria from about late 18th to early 20th century.
The knife in particular looks like mid 19th century.
The writing is most probably Süterlin, altough I cannot read it.
Modern reproductions can be seen here:

http://www.fuhrmannsbesteck.de/

Greetings, Helge

[ericlaude]

Others pictures.