Have you seen anything like this before?

[Barman1]

Looks like an ice carving knife to me.

 

[whereismyknife]

I'm just going by sight. I considered the possibility of drop-forging, but drop-forging produces a wide "seam" (parting line), whereas casting produces a very narrow seam, like on your knife.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see a hole in the handle.

Sorry, my mistake, I thought I added it. It's starting to look like casting to me too. This idea makes a lot of sense. If it is cast, I don't think it can be used for heavy work. Am I wrong?

 

[DocJD]

Some fighting knives have teeth / spikes , on the spine, to grab and tear, when blocking , hooking or trapping .

This spine would also do extra damage in stabbing but not be difficult to withdraw .

Just a possibility .

The other knives mentioned from same source would add credence to being a fighting knife .

 

[Grasshopperglock]

It sure does have a 20000 leagues under the sea vibe.

 

[killgar]

Sorry, my mistake, I thought I added it. It's starting to look like casting to me too. This idea makes a lot of sense. If it is cast, I don't think it can be used for heavy work. Am I wrong?

I'm no expert on metallurgy, others who are might chime in, but a cast steel knife could certainly handle a wide variety of knife chores, both cutting, and as a weapon. I wouldn't want to chop or pry with it without knowing it's full story, and particularly because of the holes in the blade. But if it cuts, then it cuts. And I imagine it would be devastating as a stabbing weapon (even with the sawteeth).

As for the hole in the guard/hilt, it appears to be tapped for a bolt, or perhaps there was a bolt protruding into the mold . I have no idea why. It only adds to the mystery.

The fact that someone chose to make it entirely of steel is what really bewilders me. It must be quite heavy (I see you did say 3 pounds. Yikes!). Not exactly practical for any kind of knife, utility or weapon. All of the knives I know of made out of one piece of steel have hollowed out handles.

It is an interesting piece. If it were aluminum I would think it was a movie prop, but it's not aluminum. And I don't think a prop maker would use steel.

 

[whereismyknife]

I'm no expert on metallurgy, others who are might chime in, but a cast steel knife could certainly handle a wide variety of knife chores, both cutting, and as a weapon. I wouldn't want to chop or pry with it without knowing it's full story, and particularly because of the holes in the blade. But if it cuts, then it cuts. And I'm sure it would be devastating as a stabbing weapon (even with the sawteeth).

As for the hole in the guard/hilt, it appears to be tapped for a bolt, or perhaps there was a bolt protruding into the mold . I have no idea why. It only adds to the mystery.

The fact that someone chose to make it entirely of steel is what really bewilders me. It must be quite heavy (I see you did say 3 pounds. Yikes!). Not exactly practical for any kind of knife, utility or weapon. All of the knives I know of made out of one piece of steel have hollowed out handles.

It is an interesting piece. If it were aluminum I would think it was a movie prop, but it's not aluminum. And I don't think a prop maker would use steel.

I get a strange feeling when I hit the knife. It's like it's hollow, but it's too heavy for that. I think there are holes in some places.

 

[unwisefool]

Well, that sure is...something...that's for sure

 

[DocJD]

It must be quite heavy (I see you did say 3 pounds. Yikes!). Not exactly practical for any kind of knife, utility or weapon. All of the knives I know of made out of one piece of steel have hollowed out handles.

Yeah , that's really heavy for a one handed fighting knife .

You'd have to be bear strong to properly wield , blocking feinting etc .

That kind of mass would be useful if trying to stab / penetrate some tough material and then use as a push saw ?

IDK , maybe for ice or drywall or ?

Maybe the seller thought it would make a good weapon? But , I don't think that's it's original design intent .

 

[whereismyknife]

Yeah , that's really heavy for a one handed fighting knife .

You'd have to be bear strong to properly wield , blocking feinting etc .

That kind of mass would be useful if trying to stab / penetrate some tough material and then use as a push saw ?

IDK , maybe for ice or drywall or ?

Maybe the seller thought it would make a good weapon? But , I don't think that's it's original design intent .

I have no idea what this is either. I couldn't understand how it was done. The idea that there could be casting makes sense but I wonder why someone felt the need to cast such a thing from steel.

 

[VorpelSword]

Folks, I must be missing something. Its probably an age related perception issue.

I just don't get the fascination with this k nife other than the visually striking design. Doesn't look like a k knife I would give a warfighter. Doesn't look like a Knife for a wilderness survivalist. . . .What mission is it meant for?

Who would bring this knife along and for what purpose?

 

[not2sharp]

Perhaps it was made for clearing ice. One of the challenges during WWII was as keeping Russia supplied. Ships on the way to Murmask often had to be constantly cleared by the crew since ice buildup was often enough to destabilize the ships and the ice would build up everywhere, on all kinds of equipment. This could have been made to help crews in those kinds of extreme conditions.

Most likely 1980s-90s, when the tanto shape was popularly promoted for its strength and durability.

n2s

 

[whereismyknife]

Folks, I must be missing something. Its probably an age related perception issue.

I just don't get the fascination with this k nife other than the visually striking design. Doesn't look like a k knife I would give a warfighter. Doesn't look like a Knife for a wilderness survivalist. . . .What mission is it meant for?

Who would bring this knife along and for what purpose?

That is the question! It is absolutely useless, and the rounded structure of the knife blade is also very strange. I wonder if we think too much? Some crazy guy did it just because he could?

 

[killgar]

Folks, I must be missing something. Its probably an age related perception issue.

I just don't get the fascination with this k nife other than the visually striking design. Doesn't look like a k knife I would give a warfighter. Doesn't look like a Knife for a wilderness survivalist. . . .What mission is it meant for?

Who would bring this knife along and for what purpose?

For me, any amount of fascination is simply based on the mystery. It's clearly not a practical knife, but it's strange, and I've never seen one like it. I'm fascinated by the effort put into it, how it was made, and why. It's not like some random piece of flat steel that someone went into their garage and ground into a blade shaped object then slapped some handle scales on. If it is in fact cast, that is no simple task that someone did one afternoon in their garage.

Some people just like a good mystery. And the only purpose need be a few moments of entertainment on a knife forum .

By the way, thanks for posting it whereismyknife. I found it interesting.

 

[whereismyknife]

By the way, thanks for posting it whereismyknife. I found it interesting.

My pleasure. To be honest, the only reason I bought this in the first place was to share it here and listen to people's opinions.The fact that it achieved its purpose is enough pleasure for me. Personally, I love seeing such interesting things and speculating on them.

 

[TC]

Looks like the steak knife from the Star Wars canteen.

 

[Grasshopperglock]

Something that's remarkable. Is the machine marks as shown in the first pictures. Zig-zag looking marks on and along the radius of every curved surface.

I'm not aware of any tool that'll make that pattern.

So if it was cast, which most likely it was. What was used to finish it out?

 

[whereismyknife]

Something that's remarkable. Is the machine marks as shown in the first pictures. Zig-zag looking marks on and along the radius of every curved surface.

I'm not aware of any tool that'll make that pattern.

So if it was cast, which most likely it was. What was used to finish it out?

Could there be patterns resulting from the mold in which it was cast?

 

[Arathol]

Something that's remarkable. Is the machine marks as shown in the first pictures. Zig-zag looking marks on and along the radius of every curved surface.

I'm not aware of any tool that'll make that pattern.

So if it was cast, which most likely it was. What was used to finish it out?

Looks sort of like it was polished with a small wire wheel.......

 

[Ebbtide]

If the OP is ever attacked by a rogue band of Sheetrock, he’s ready.

 

[Grasshopperglock]

Looks sort of like it was polished with a small wire wheel.......

It was. It had to be. How interesting. Wire brushed when it was soft. The rough chatter looking hole edges. The entire knife is a story line of how he made it. Some guy had that design in his head, way before it was made. And there's nothing that matches it. Not even close.

It's comical, serious, and a crazy wide design all wrapped into one. It could be a conversation piece of an entire collection.