Need help by identification of a knife

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

Henk · 24th December 2007, 07:26 PM

Helge,

When you have your books at your hand some pictures and maybe a description would be nice. I'm also curious to the scabbard of these knives.

By the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS everybody!!!

RobT · 27th December 2007, 02:21 AM

Hi All,
I believe the sea creature is a dolphin and the rider is the mythological Greek musician Arion. The woodcuts in the vihuela book "Seys Libros del Delfin de Musica" by Narváez published at Valladolid in 1538 show, according to the playwright Thomas Heywood, "Arion on the Dolphin's backe, still fumbling on a gittern". (Apparently the publishers felt it necessary to replace Arion's traditional lyre with a vihuela.) If my identification is correct, it would seem to indicate that the blade was at least owned (and engraved) at some point by a European.
Sincerely,
RobT

24th December 2007, 11:44 AM	#5
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!!!

27th December 2007, 02:21 AM	#8
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 563	It's Greek to me Hi All, I believe the sea creature is a dolphin and the rider is the mythological Greek musician Arion. The woodcuts in the vihuela book "Seys Libros del Delfin de Musica" by Narváez published at Valladolid in 1538 show, according to the playwright Thomas Heywood, "Arion on the Dolphin's backe, still fumbling on a gittern". (Apparently the publishers felt it necessary to replace Arion's traditional lyre with a vihuela.) If my identification is correct, it would seem to indicate that the blade was at least owned (and engraved) at some point by a European. Sincerely, RobT

24th December 2007, 12:19 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	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	#2
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	#3
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	#4
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

24th December 2007, 07:26 PM	#7
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Helge, When you have your books at your hand some pictures and maybe a description would be nice. I'm also curious to the scabbard of these knives. By the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS everybody!!!