For your viewing pleasure (another fun odd knife)

not2sharp

not2sharp

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Jun 29, 1999
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Perhaps the collection has drifted a little into the odd ends department. (but hopefully not too far)

Here we see an old knife which has been very heavily cleaned. I suspect that this was left in somebody's trunk and stored in a basement for several decaded before it re-surfaced in miserable condition looking like little more than a streak of rust. The gilding and makers marks are now gone and the leather/wooden sheath rotted ages ago, but there is still enough here to provide a hint of how elegant this knife once was. It is a massive piece with an OAL of 28 inches, and a beautiful 21 inch tri-fullered blade that ends in a strong diamond cross section point. The blade still bares a few dings along the forward edge. these are the minor impacts of the serious kind rather than the deeper and oddly located impacts caused by the irresponsible play of children.

We can call it a yatagan with a Pesh handle, or, a Pesh with a yatagan blade. Whatever it once was, there is still enough of it to stimulate our imagination. What a great knife this was. The lack of organics materials, markings, and the heavy cleaning make it hard to date. Probably 18th century, possibly early 18th century, is as good a guess as any.

All I know is that I am glad that it is a very old piece. I would not want to run into the original owner of this one. judging by the grip, and the overall size of the knife, he must have been enormous.

n2s
 

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Thanks for sharing this. I think the the collection certainly can't be faulted for having moved in this direction...

The very shape and profile does cause the imagination to create a spectacular original appearance. Sorta like wondering what a stone ruin of an ancient building was when intact and decorated.

Do you have the weight? Where does it balance?
 
Can you imagine what that baby looked like when it was new? Yea, the guy that used that was probably a pretty good sized dude.:)
 
The point of balance is three inches in front of the grip, and even though the spine is starts at about 1/4", the fullers and the narrowing towards the armor piercing tip makes it a very fast and responsive blade. Those old timers knew what they were doing.

n2s
 
the curve on the bottom cutting edge still mirrors a khuk, or falcata, but without the extra top mass. All those fullers! "Groovy"

Keith

HI Falcata:
attachment.php

(Photo Credit:Bill Marsh)
 
It is telling that the point on this one (about the first three inches) is much thicker than the rest of the blade (perhaps a maximum of 3/8 inch). Whoever forged this knew exactly what they were doing.

n2s
 
Bill,

It is always interesting to study an old knife; especially, when it is two hundred to three hundred years old.

n2s
 
BTW, I am leaning towards reclassifying the knife as a khanjar.

C.G.588z.JPG


This far younger 19th century example of a khanjar highlights the similarities. Although, it is much smaller (1/3 the size), the shape and construction are very similar. We can only imagine what the original would have looked like in a similar state of condition.

Here is a closeup og the original handle decoration:
 

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Yeeesh N2S! Making me jealous over here:D Back to the top knife, 21" blade with a 7" handle? Yeah he was probably a big guy, or a little guy with the "mighty mouse" complex....:D
 
You must have a heckuva collection.
Click to expand...

Well, plenty of photos anyway. Except for a small, more or less, permanent collection; I usually trade knives off at a rate of about six per month. It is the best way I have found to keep a constant stream of interesting stuff coming in without getting buried alive. For the last couple of years I have been on the lookout for oddball 19th century, or older, pieces like this one that send me straight to the reading stack. There are about 20 pieces in my trade box right now (including a few of the Spanish Special Forces Knives) and I am aiming to swap those by the end of the year.

Eggerton managed to record an even larger two handed khanjar, but this one is as big as I care to handle. Just the same if anyone wants to trade a two-handed khanjar...... :)

It also helps to work up a decent library.

n2s
 
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