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Old 2nd May 2016, 08:09 AM   #1
taube
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Default Unknown Knife

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 rulerīs units are centimeters.
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Last edited by taube; 2nd May 2016 at 04:39 PM.
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Old 2nd May 2016, 06:01 PM   #2
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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.
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Old 2nd May 2016, 06:39 PM   #3
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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.
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Old 2nd May 2016, 06:42 PM   #4
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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.
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Old 2nd May 2016, 06:46 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.

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.
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Old 2nd May 2016, 07:01 PM   #6
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Interesting piece, it has a simple brutality which I guess is what knives are all about. I agree could be a WW1 trench knife...
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Old 2nd May 2016, 10:02 PM   #7
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Maybe Chinese? Boxer Rebellion? The Germans had a presence in China at that time.
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Old 3rd May 2016, 08:00 AM   #8
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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.
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Old 3rd May 2016, 08:48 AM   #9
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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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Old 3rd May 2016, 02:45 PM   #10
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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?
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Old 3rd May 2016, 09:56 PM   #11
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I see the resemblance to what are sometimes called "Chinese Bowie knives" but it is not one of them.
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Old 4th May 2016, 12:22 AM   #12
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The scabbard is of European design and manufacture.
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Old 5th May 2016, 09:45 AM   #13
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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.
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Old 7th May 2016, 02:59 PM   #14
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Another vote for a WWI trench knife/dagger.
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