Help! Need info on mysterious & strange boot knife I bought

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bhp9

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May 13, 2016
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Strange , mysterious German Boot knife. I have no idea what this cavity located in the handle was used for. The top DOES NOT screw off. The handle has this strange pweter bucket embedded in the knife handle. The only entrance is the two small screw holes. What was supposed to be put in this bucket is a mystery. Not liquid because the screws have no gaskets. The former owner claimed it might have been used for "snuff" but the snuff would have had to be the size of pepper or salt to get it in and putting in pepper or salt would have also have been very difficult.

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Nasal Snuff is finer than pepper or salt, and isn't that bad of a guess.
I've seen similar Bavarian knives, but can't seem to find a good example right now.
 
What does it say on the blade? That might help track it down.

My guess would be a gun powder flask. Maybe for a pocket pistol. The powder would be poured into the handle using a little funnel (if it is in fact a powder flask).

Do both screws access one single chamber or are there two separate chambers?
 
Patch knife, with the opening being for powder would be my guess. It appears to be a very nice piece, if you don't mind saying what you paid and what the age is I would love to know.
 
Well, it looks like a traditional Vespermesser used for a rustic meal when out and about, so two small amounts of salt and pepper would make sense. Why else two openings if only one substance were to be put in it? Probably came with a small funnel to aid in filling.
 
killgar said:
What does it say on the blade? That might help track it down.

My guess would be a gun powder flask. Maybe for a pocket pistol. The powder would be poured into the handle using a little funnel (if it is in fact a powder flask).

Do both screws access one single chamber or are there two separate chambers?
Click to expand...
There are two separate chambers. And the only blade marking is Solingen, Rostfrei, and a picture of a big Moose.
 
bhp9 said:
There are two separate chambers. And the only blade marking is Solingen, Rostfrei, and a picture of a big Moose.
Click to expand...

Two separate chambers makes me think gun powder for two pre-measured shots. But that's just speculation.

I suppose it could be for salt and pepper, but it seems like a lot of work for that. I can imagine a man being willing to spend more money for a knife with a gun powder flask in the handle, but not for a knife with salt and pepper shakers in the handle.

But again, just speculation. Thanks for sharing.
 
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Stickgunner said:
Patch knife, with the opening being for powder would be my guess. It appears to be a very nice piece, if you don't mind saying what you paid and what the age is I would love to know.
Click to expand...
I have no idea how old it is. I bid on it because I have seen knives like this that are not as fancy go for double the price I paid for it and since this knife is fancy I figure I paid 1/3 of what it is worth. I could not believe all the other bidders did not go higher. I guess I was just destined to acquire this beauty. I never have seen another like it although one of the other posters said he has seen others like it. I imagine hunters in Germany would know more about why and what this knife was used for.

I never have understood how the German hunters really carried this knife. I would imagine putting it in a boot would be very uncomfortable and due to the lack of a keeper strap the knife would eventually fall out of its sheath while walking.
 
I don't think it's a boot knife. It appears that lederhosen have a special knife pocket.

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