I have no idea what this is.

[Judstuff]

It's been a while since I've posted anything but I came across a knife that I have no information about. It looks to be very old, foreign, and basically unmarked. Does anyone have any clues as to where this knife may be from and approximate age? This may be way out of the scope of this forum but any information or insight is appreciated!

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I don’t recognize this knife, but to me it looks English. Looks like ivory handles on there too.
That tang stamp is a head scratcher. Reminds me of trilobites.

[Dinadan]

I do not recognize it at all, but to me it looks like something out of Persia. Very cool. The little circles on the end of the handle are puzzling.

[Judstuff]

Thanks for the replies. I noticed one thing about the circles; in the 4 quadrants, there are 6, 7, 8, and 9 circles in the separate areas. I don't know if the handle is ivory, I'm not sure how to check for that.

[FRJ]

Spanish?

[Miller Bro's]

Looks like it is from Malawi in east Africa.

Handle is most likely Hippopotamus Ivory.

Beautiful knife.

[Judstuff]

Miller Bro's, you seem to have nailed it. I found one almost identical and it is from the Yao tribe in Malawi. Below is a description and picture from the Mansfield collection website (credit to Geoffrey Mansfield):

"One of the rarer types of knives from the African continent, they are often mistaken as Asian in origin but are actually from the Yao People in Africa's Malawi and Mozambique. A well-made, heavy example, the hilt is carved from a piece of elephant tusk. The hilt is engraved with black circle-dot motifs on the pommel. The blade is thick, single- edged steel with a small fuller near the spine connecting to a steel bolster. There are stamps present on one face of the blade often seen on Yao knives. The sheath is leather over wood. Very similar examples in the British Musuem are attributed to the late 19th to early 20th century."

Yao knife.jpg (16.78 KiB) Viewed 2954 times

Thank you for shedding light on this "mystery" knife!

[Ridgegrass]

My kind of collecting. Excellent! Good eye Dimitri. J.O'.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Wow, never seen one of those before. Thanks for showing it.

[woodwalker]

Beautiful!!

[Paladin]

Fascinating!

Ray

[Don L59]

I like unique knives like that one. Thanks for sharing it with us. I have one I have know Idea what it is. Anybody have any idea what it could be?

[Mumbleypeg]

I like unique knives like that one. Thanks for sharing it with us. I have one I have know Idea what it is. Anybody have any idea what it could be?

Looks like a navaja knife. Could be Spanish, French, or ?? No markings on it anywhere? https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... mit=Search

Ken

[Don L59]

That makes two of us. I’m totally stumped on this one too. The Handle kind of reminds me of American Revolutionary style knife. but it’s in to good of condition,to be that old. There’s no spring. Opens kinda like a peasant knife. I’m pretty sure the handle is some type of horn or bone.

[Don L59]

No markings on it.

[Mumbleypeg]

Not surprising. As you deduced already, many Navaja are indeed peasant knives, and that’s likely how the pattern originated. Some old Navaja knives were simply a cow’s horn split in two with a blade inserted. Thus the shape.

The pattern is believed to have originated in moorish Spain but has spread to many countries, most having some Spanish cultural influence.

Ken

[Don L59]

Well thanks for the information Ken. Appreciate your input. I have trouble passing on an unusual to me knife.