taube

Gentlemen,

this knife came form an antiques dealer in Southern Germany.
It has some features of professional production.
Despite intense research, I cannot find any hints on its posssible origins.
Someone said it resembles a "Landknechtsmesser".
Could be ethno, European peasantry or simply self made or ...?

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
taube.

The ruler´s units are centimeters.

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corrado26

I think that this knife is a selfmade item, not too old, probably 20th century. The six edged pommel looks like a modern nut and in case that the south German dealer's name starts with an "F" it is certainly not old.
corrado26

Bob A

The sheath doesn't look home-made to me, and its covering is the same leather as on the hilt.

It's a nice, brutal-looking piece of work, whatever it may be.

Tim Simmons

Looks like a WW1 trench knife. In the UK many simple trench knives were made by established cutlers. I cannot see why it would have differed in Germany. I like the simple confident directness and there is style too.

Shakethetrees

Yes, too workmanlike to be a home made job. Especially the scabbard, which can be more difficult to do than a knife!

I like it but I think the date could be pushed back a little, maybe late 19th century-WWII.

colin henshaw

Interesting piece, it has a simple brutality which I guess is what knives are all about. I agree could be a WW1 trench knife...

drac2k

Maybe Chinese? Boxer Rebellion? The Germans had a presence in China at that time.

Tim Simmons

Good suggestion there is semblance to Chinese knife forms. It appears to have a military design made to hang from a clip of some kind , like some army belts.

taube

Thanks very much for all the input!
I will have to dig deeper in some directions.

Enclosed another detail shot.

Best,
taube.

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Tim Simmons

Another possibility is Spanish, from the civil war. The blade is like many Spanish knives and the Spanish bayonet scabbard has that nipple shape on the metal end piece of the scabbard. Just thoughts on a military and cultural mix in design?

Another thought South America, Argentina?

josh stout

I see the resemblance to what are sometimes called "Chinese Bowie knives" but it is not one of them.

Shakethetrees

The scabbard is of European design and manufacture.

Henk

My first thought was a trench knife. Spanish civil war like Tim said is very good possible too. I think you have to look in those two directions.