Nice old knife...origins? Use?

[kronckew]

Crete is still making these knives, here's a maybe not quite so fancy general purpose knife:




6" hunting knife, couple of years old. synthetic scabbard, olive wood scales, 3mm blade thickness.
marked xania - armenis, a local brand made by apostolis in xania.
(and a name apparently also used by other cretan knifesmiths in imitation)
apparently when he moved to xania 45 years ago the locals thought he was an armenian he isn't. he was a greek born in turkey.

i understand he's getting old & not making many anymore, most of the competition has died out, so there may
not be many more made by hand anymore....

(the folder at top is a french Marjacq twistlock in ebony - 3 3/8" Hi carbon steel blade)

for more info on cretan knives of a much higher caliber & of the more traditional style see the Cretan Knife Website