Oddball Russian(?) Needle for comment

ariel · 17th May 2019, 12:02 PM

I can see nothing “Russian” here. The inscription is definitely not in Russian, and I would not exclude the possibility that it might be either a meaningless imitation of Arabic lettering or a work of an illiterate engraver not acquainted with traditional calligraphy. Islamic source is unlikely: numbers are not Arabic.
Also, nothing Russian in the engraved decorative figure on the blade.
With all the limitations inherent in photographic image, I would read the date as 1910.

Overall, it is either an equivalent of an Indian Gupti or a horsewhip handle. I tend to think that the former might be more realistic.

I would put it somewhere in the Balkans. The carefully formed notch ( kind of a fingerstall) at the top of the handle is frequently found on Balkan knives.

My 2 cents.

17th May 2019, 12:02 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I can see nothing “Russian” here. The inscription is definitely not in Russian, and I would not exclude the possibility that it might be either a meaningless imitation of Arabic lettering or a work of an illiterate engraver not acquainted with traditional calligraphy. Islamic source is unlikely: numbers are not Arabic. Also, nothing Russian in the engraved decorative figure on the blade. With all the limitations inherent in photographic image, I would read the date as 1910. Overall, it is either an equivalent of an Indian Gupti or a horsewhip handle. I tend to think that the former might be more realistic. I would put it somewhere in the Balkans. The carefully formed notch ( kind of a fingerstall) at the top of the handle is frequently found on Balkan knives. My 2 cents. Last edited by ariel; 17th May 2019 at 12:21 PM.