Kurdish Knives - Collectable?

[videousaf]

Hi all,

I have the opportunity to purchase what appear to be antique kurdish knives from a travelling bazaar that comes to our base here in Iraq. They are steel with wooden handles. THe handles generally have some sort of copper or half-ball ornamentation and the blades range in length from 7-9 inches. They are unique in that the steel has a raised rib down either side of the blade. The vendors insist these are very old antiques. THe scabbards are all recently made. It's obvious the handles are old by the wood cracking and ageing. I also have the opportunity to iraqi army russian bayonets. Anyone have any advice?

TIA, Vid

 

[TorzJohnson]

Back when I was overseas, I tried wheeling and dealing with Russians, Gypsies and Arabs. They were all much better at it than me. All I can say is Caveat Emptor.

 

[Kasik]

The traditional Kurdish dagger, the Hanjir, is available in Iraq and Kurdistan in a variety of versions.

The truly collectable daggers feature a black handle of horn, with the blades possessing no rib as described. The steel used in such blades is called Deban Steel, and is of very high quality and forged. These knives are simple, well made, and come in various sizes.

The working Hanjirs feature wooden handles and blades of equal or lesser steels, both ribbed and non-ribbed. These are sturdy knives and both look and feel like such.

If you are being offered hanjirs from a traveling salesman who says they are collectable, antique knives (as you describe them physically) I would venture they are actually very cheap versions of a quality Hanjir, and worth about 1 US dollar, if that. Depending on what you want them for (wall hanger?) I'd pay as little as possible and consider it good. I would not consider them as investment pieces, however.

"Let the buyer beware" is sound advice.

Kasik sends -

 

[Walking Man]

My best advise to you is to keep your eye on the Bernard Levine
identification forum. They come across a number of real and fakes every week, you'll learn a lot if you do. Also check out this same forum on the "other" site, you'll find similar info there too.