Need help by identification of a knife

Rich · 23rd December 2007, 10:03 PM

I doubt Asian just from the style. Can you post a clear picture of
the blade markings?

Rich S

Jim McDougall · 23rd December 2007, 10:11 PM

Its been a while, but I've seen something similar that was I believe from coastal India, possibly Malabar coast.
I'd like to see more on the blade markings also.

carlos · 23rd December 2007, 10:18 PM

Seems colonial to me, maybe Cuba? Thanks
Carlos

Henk · 23rd December 2007, 11:06 PM

Jim, Rich,

This picture of the blade marking is the best I can do at the moment, I'm afraid. The marking is a bit worn out. Maybe because of the patina.
Honestly I doubt the marking is a clear mark of the maker.

fernando · 23rd December 2007, 11:30 PM

A dog?
I must be seeing things

.
To me, it looks like some person ( a lady ? ) mounting on the so said whale

.
That button on the handle ... is it fix or unscrewable ?
Are you sure is Asian, Jim ?
Not colonial, like Carlos sugests ?
Or even an African hunting knife, with a trade blade ?
Fernando

Jim McDougall · 24th December 2007, 12:19 AM

West coast India, to the south, Kerala. Basic similarities in motif resembling some piha kaetta, as well as the capstan.

VANDOO · 24th December 2007, 04:45 AM

IT LOOKS LIKE A MERMAID RIDING ON A DOLPHIN PLAYING A HARP TO ME. PERHAPS THE KNIFE IS FROM THE METERANEN AREA BUT SUCH DESIGNS WERE ALSO FOUND IN EUROPEAN COUNTRYS. EITHER WAY ITS A GRAND CHRISTMAS PRESENT, CONGRADULATIONS

Henk · 24th December 2007, 07:45 AM

Vandoo,

You're right. Now I see it too. It is a harp playing mermaid, riding a dolphin. The picture gives a more sharper image of the engraving than when you study it with your bare eyes. The tail of the mermaid is hardly visible and her head is not visible at all any more.

For the moment I go with Jim. The area of India makes sense to me. It has some piha kaetta similarities in its appearance.

Fernando, the button on the handle is fixed.

Thanks for your comments so far.

ingelred · 24th December 2007, 09:26 AM

Hello,

at the moment I have no literature at hand but I have sveral books, where this kind of knife is depicted. Accoring to these books these knives where made in the middle of the 19th century in Solingen for export to Middle and South America.

Greetings Helge

Gavin Nugent · 24th December 2007, 11:44 AM

Nice knife, I'd like something like that myself, I think it looks almost Spanish so maybe Cuba is not far off.....just a thought...Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Rich · 24th December 2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ingelred

Hello,

at the moment I have no literature at hand but I have sveral books, where this kind of knife is depicted. Accoring to these books these knives where made in the middle of the 19th century in Solingen for export to Middle and South America.

Greetings Helge

I would agree, European, but I was thinking English or Scandinavian, made
for the whaling trade - perhaps a whale butchering knife/ blubber knife??

Rich S

23rd December 2007, 10:18 PM	#3
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 748	CUBA? Seems colonial to me, maybe Cuba? Thanks Carlos

23rd December 2007, 11:06 PM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Jim, Rich, This picture of the blade marking is the best I can do at the moment, I'm afraid. The marking is a bit worn out. Maybe because of the patina. Honestly I doubt the marking is a clear mark of the maker. Attached Images

24th December 2007, 11:44 AM	#10
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Unusual Nice knife, I'd like something like that myself, I think it looks almost Spanish so maybe Cuba is not far off.....just a thought...Merry Christmas everyone!!!

23rd December 2007, 10:03 PM	#1
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I doubt Asian just from the style. Can you post a clear picture of the blade markings? Rich S

23rd December 2007, 10:11 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	Its been a while, but I've seen something similar that was I believe from coastal India, possibly Malabar coast. I'd like to see more on the blade markings also.

23rd December 2007, 11:30 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A dog? I must be seeing things . To me, it looks like some person ( a lady ? ) mounting on the so said whale . That button on the handle ... is it fix or unscrewable ? Are you sure is Asian, Jim ? Not colonial, like Carlos sugests ? Or even an African hunting knife, with a trade blade ? Fernando

24th December 2007, 12:19 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,194	West coast India, to the south, Kerala. Basic similarities in motif resembling some piha kaetta, as well as the capstan.

24th December 2007, 04:45 AM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IT LOOKS LIKE A MERMAID RIDING ON A DOLPHIN PLAYING A HARP TO ME. PERHAPS THE KNIFE IS FROM THE METERANEN AREA BUT SUCH DESIGNS WERE ALSO FOUND IN EUROPEAN COUNTRYS. EITHER WAY ITS A GRAND CHRISTMAS PRESENT, CONGRADULATIONS

24th December 2007, 07:45 AM	#8
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Vandoo, You're right. Now I see it too. It is a harp playing mermaid, riding a dolphin. The picture gives a more sharper image of the engraving than when you study it with your bare eyes. The tail of the mermaid is hardly visible and her head is not visible at all any more. For the moment I go with Jim. The area of India makes sense to me. It has some piha kaetta similarities in its appearance. Fernando, the button on the handle is fixed. Thanks for your comments so far.

24th December 2007, 09:26 AM	#9
ingelred Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Moenchengladbach, Germany Posts: 62	Hello, at the moment I have no literature at hand but I have sveral books, where this kind of knife is depicted. Accoring to these books these knives where made in the middle of the 19th century in Solingen for export to Middle and South America. Greetings Helge