Cossack knife ? any informations ?

francantolin · 29th December 2014, 02:32 PM

Hello,

I just bought this old knife.
The seller called it a cossack boot-knife but I'm really not sure :
the stamp on the blade K. Marggraf Riga is the name from a 19th-early 20th century fabric of surgery blades in Riga , Latvia...

I found the shape of the blade really original and interesting.

Any idea of the (old) use of such a knife ?

Thank you !!

Andrew · 30th December 2014, 04:46 AM

Not a "cossack" knife. A variation of kard.

spiral · 30th December 2014, 09:03 PM

I can see from scabbard that its intended to be carried , but could it have originally been an amputation knife? Many have similar shaped blades.

spiral

francantolin · 30th December 2014, 10:41 PM

Hello,

Thank you both for your answer.

It is possible to be an amputation knife because the factory was selling surgery material...
Brrr wasn't looking for that when I bought it !

Prefer the kard idea !!

ariel · 31st December 2014, 07:29 PM

The answer is somewhat unexpected: it is a Latvian (Riga) knife for .... cutting flax:-)
Seriously.
Quite sme time ago I asked the same question on a Russian forum and was enlightened with other examples, pics from a museum in Riga etc.

The form is so "oriental" and "vicious", that one easily gets confused. But in reality, it is just a very peaceful agricultural/industrial implement.
Happy New Year!

Oliver Pinchot · 31st December 2014, 07:37 PM

You nailed it, Ariel.
Happy New Year, all

francantolin · 1st January 2015, 07:41 PM

A vegetable killer knife !!

Thank you.
Good idea, I'll try in eastern Europa forums for other informations.

Interesting comment Pinnchot !

Happy New Year Everybody !!

29th December 2014, 02:32 PM	#1
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 815	Cossack knife ? any informations ? Hello, I just bought this old knife. The seller called it a cossack boot-knife but I'm really not sure : the stamp on the blade K. Marggraf Riga is the name from a 19th-early 20th century fabric of surgery blades in Riga , Latvia... I found the shape of the blade really original and interesting. Any idea of the (old) use of such a knife ? Thank you !! Attached Images

30th December 2014, 04:46 AM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Not a "cossack" knife. A variation of kard.

30th December 2014, 09:03 PM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	I can see from scabbard that its intended to be carried , but could it have originally been an amputation knife? Many have similar shaped blades. spiral

30th December 2014, 10:41 PM	#4
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 815	Hello, Thank you both for your answer. It is possible to be an amputation knife because the factory was selling surgery material... Brrr wasn't looking for that when I bought it ! Prefer the kard idea !!

31st December 2014, 07:29 PM	#5
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The answer is somewhat unexpected: it is a Latvian (Riga) knife for .... cutting flax:-) Seriously. Quite sme time ago I asked the same question on a Russian forum and was enlightened with other examples, pics from a museum in Riga etc. The form is so "oriental" and "vicious", that one easily gets confused. But in reality, it is just a very peaceful agricultural/industrial implement. Happy New Year!

31st December 2014, 07:37 PM	#6
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 456	You nailed it, Ariel. Happy New Year, all

1st January 2015, 07:41 PM	#7
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 815	A vegetable killer knife !! Thank you. Good idea, I'll try in eastern Europa forums for other informations. Interesting comment Pinnchot ! Happy New Year Everybody !!