Unusual Bulgarian Knife

Aurangzeb · 4th December 2005, 04:36 AM

Hello All!

Here is an odd piece that has been lurking around my collection for a while. The person I bought it from said that it was a 19th. century Bulgarian folding knife from the Ottoman period, to me this seems likely because the person I bought it from was in Bulgaria but thats why I posted it here to hopefully find out more about this knife or where it really came from.
Any information or comments are welcome.

Mark...

TVV · 4th December 2005, 07:45 AM

Hi Mark,
What you have is called "kundre" in Bulgaria and it was a small, folding knife that women in Bulgaria used during the 19th century, and probably before that. It had various applications, the most famous being cutting a newborn's umbilical cord. Overall it was a utility tool, and by no means a fighting weapon, despite that it could have some limited application in self defence.
That is about it, but because you would probably ask how it was worn, well, it was worn on a string underneath the skirts. That is waht the ring is for.
Regards,
Teodor

Yannis · 4th December 2005, 03:04 PM

I agree with TVV but I have to add few words. This is also a greek folding knife, with the name “sougias”. I was lucky enough to find a better example in Ebay recently.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6573941130

The blade of mine is defiantly greek, with greek words and date 1902. It is very beautiful blade with engraving and acid made black color to give this aesthetic result.

There is also a mystery here because it has a hilt of bone, worked and painted in an exotic style. It is the first time I see a hilt like this. The normal hilts are wood for the common pieces or silver for the higher ones. I wish your comments about the hilt. Also if anyone here has in his collection a piece, please post it.

erlikhan · 4th December 2005, 03:55 PM

it is a common simple farmer's tool , still used by some Turkish villagers with the name "nacak". I guess for choping and picking corn, sunflower etc. I dont know if Mike's sample is from the Ottoman period, but as the materials and shape hasnt evolved since then, it shouldnt differ so much , if antique or not. The second one probably belonged to a richer landowner looking for some difference and luxury as much as the limited village life let him.

regards

Aurangzeb · 4th December 2005, 04:37 PM

Hello All!

Was it strickly a womens knife? So it seems this knife is widely ditributed inparts of the balkans. Very interesting, thanks every one for the information.

Mark...

Rick · 4th December 2005, 07:59 PM

It's a fairly common style ; I'm not sure if one country alone can really claim it as originating there .
Yannis example shows a slight similarity to a navaja .

gp · 15th December 2022, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurangzeb

Hello All!

....So it seems this knife is widely ditributed inparts of the balkans. ...

Mark...

indeed, mine is from Herzegowina and is also quite old ( bought it near Mostar and could be traced back by the previous owner to his family around 1910 ).
Even antique I think ( Ottoman or just post Ottoman times / early Habsburg maybe)

4th December 2005, 04:36 AM	#1
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Unusual Bulgarian Knife Hello All! Here is an odd piece that has been lurking around my collection for a while. The person I bought it from said that it was a 19th. century Bulgarian folding knife from the Ottoman period, to me this seems likely because the person I bought it from was in Bulgaria but thats why I posted it here to hopefully find out more about this knife or where it really came from. Any information or comments are welcome. Mark... Attached Images

4th December 2005, 07:45 AM	#2
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,601	Hi Mark, What you have is called "kundre" in Bulgaria and it was a small, folding knife that women in Bulgaria used during the 19th century, and probably before that. It had various applications, the most famous being cutting a newborn's umbilical cord. Overall it was a utility tool, and by no means a fighting weapon, despite that it could have some limited application in self defence. That is about it, but because you would probably ask how it was worn, well, it was worn on a string underneath the skirts. That is waht the ring is for. Regards, Teodor

4th December 2005, 03:04 PM	#3
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	I agree with TVV but I have to add few words. This is also a greek folding knife, with the name “sougias”. I was lucky enough to find a better example in Ebay recently. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=6573941130 The blade of mine is defiantly greek, with greek words and date 1902. It is very beautiful blade with engraving and acid made black color to give this aesthetic result. There is also a mystery here because it has a hilt of bone, worked and painted in an exotic style. It is the first time I see a hilt like this. The normal hilts are wood for the common pieces or silver for the higher ones. I wish your comments about the hilt. Also if anyone here has in his collection a piece, please post it.

4th December 2005, 03:55 PM	#4
erlikhan Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Istanbul Posts: 452	it is a common simple farmer's tool , still used by some Turkish villagers with the name "nacak". I guess for choping and picking corn, sunflower etc. I dont know if Mike's sample is from the Ottoman period, but as the materials and shape hasnt evolved since then, it shouldnt differ so much , if antique or not. The second one probably belonged to a richer landowner looking for some difference and luxury as much as the limited village life let him. regards

4th December 2005, 04:37 PM	#5
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello All! Was it strickly a womens knife? So it seems this knife is widely ditributed inparts of the balkans. Very interesting, thanks every one for the information. Mark...

4th December 2005, 07:59 PM	#6
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,268	It's a fairly common style ; I'm not sure if one country alone can really claim it as originating there . Yannis example shows a slight similarity to a navaja .