An old mystery knife..........

[knife7knut]

Going through my many boxes re-shooting pictures I came across this knife that I have had for about 40 years now. It came out of a huge collection of knives and militaria that a friend of mine purchased. He collected only military stuff and would usually give me first shot on everything else before he trucked it off to the local flea market.
I have never really tried to research it because I didn't think it had much value or was anything special. However looking at it more closely I have my doubts as to my original assessment.
It is a double edged dagger with a thin fancy cross guard;ornately carved wooden handle;inlaid with what appear to be pieces of bone and one red stone.The pommel is a piece of antler(?) with a carving of a large cat(tiger or jaguar maybe)on either side.
One side of the blade is deeply etched with a semi crouching large cat overlaid with a shield topped by a crown and a cross and what looks like an open hand palm up.
The other side features a banner with the words,"CUM DEO ET MANU" flowing into a square design that looks like it may be letters of some type and topped by a large bird(eagle?)with it's head facing to our left.
There is a silver band directly behind the cross guard that has some designs on it;primarily a diamond surrounding 4 other diamonds.
The wood of the handle is very light and heavy grained;looking almost like red oak.
If anyone has any idea what it says or the origin of the designs on it I would be most appreciative of finding out. Here are some detailed pictures.

[knife7knut]

A few more pictures.

[Paladin]

Very interesting knife. I can't wait to see what info turns up on it.

Ray

[KnifeSlinger#81]

Quite a fancy piece. Do you think it may have been a dress knife?

[XX Case XX]

I'm not an expert but I believe, loosely translated, CUM DEO ET MANU means...With God and Strong Hand...or Strength of Hand. I'm probably way off but it's a start.

__________
Mike

[deo-pa]

The animal is what is called a "Heraldic Tyger" and is a symbol used in English crests and coats of arms. It is a tiger but with features of both a lion and a wolf. See figure 323 here: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Comple ... Chapter_12.

Dennis

[knife7knut]

The animal is what is called a "Heraldic Tyger" and is a symbol used in English crests and coats of arms. It is a tiger but with features of both a lion and a wolf. See figure 323 here: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Comple ... Chapter_12.

Dennis

Thanks for that link Dennis;looks like I have a lot of reading to do!