Author Topic: Help identify knife-PLEASE  (Read 7476 times)

seeyouthere

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Help identify knife-PLEASE
« on: January 05, 2011, 05:06:23 pm »
We inherited this strange knife years ago from a friend.  The story he gave us was that it was a sacrificial knife and very very old.  We have no clue how he got it though and no clue if his story is true or not.  It certainly is interesting looking.   I have attached a photo but I am no computer genius so I hope the photo is the right size and stuff.  We have tried to find any information by looking online but haven't come up with anything helpful at all.  There is no place near us that we could take it to anyone who might be of some help near us either that we know of, unfortunately. 
We would really appreciate any help that anyone might be able to toss our way and would especially appreciate anyone who really knew anything really great about it!!
Thank you in advance for looking and trying. 

talesofthesevenseas

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2011, 05:17:44 pm »
I think what you have is a "kris dagger". Here's a page of basic info, see the photo on the right side for one with a blade similar to yours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris
« Last Edit: January 05, 2011, 05:22:52 pm by talesofthesevenseas »
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greenacres

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2011, 05:26:56 pm »
I like your knife. It's very cool.
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waywardangler

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2011, 05:34:53 pm »
I do not think it is a kris.  Texas badger should know what it is.  I will go and see if I can find it in my knife book but it is lacking for much info on foreign knives.

seeyouthere

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2011, 05:44:29 pm »
Yes, I had already seen that photo from wiki but it just didn't seem similar enough to me to be the same type.

sapphire

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2011, 06:16:47 pm »
Came across some pics of bishwa daggers that have a similar form . Many have a loop style handle, the one below is
more in line with yours as are some others I came across.

http://www.oriental-arms.ru/item.php?id=4495




seeyouthere

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2011, 06:23:42 pm »
Hmmm, that is certainly interesting looking and closer than others I have looked at. 

waywardangler

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2011, 08:47:37 pm »
Hmmmm, seeyouthere, this was posted with a pic by Don R on this page in April 2008...http://www.specialistauctions.com/valuation.php?page=posts&topic_id=2260

Hada wrote..."This piece is NOT an Omani Khanjar / dagger at all.  It has nothing to do with Middle Eastern weaponary.  This piece is Mongolian.  The hand is most likely copper or brass.  The blade is called Jowhar, or watered steel. There should be wavy trails of the metal on the blade making it very hard indeed.  The blade is quite sharp and is used not for animal sacrifice, for goats and shep.  This is used for the killing of humans.  The shape of the blade is indicative of this as it's put at the front of the neck.  Sorry for the gruesome details but that is exactly what it is.  I am not able to establish it's age but it would be commensurate with the period in which ritual kiling of humans through tribal raids was common."

This is 2 1/2 yrs later then the original post.  Did you not believe what Hada said or have you been unable to find more info?

« Last Edit: January 06, 2011, 01:50:53 am by waywardangler »

mariok54

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #8 on: January 06, 2011, 12:48:44 am »

The shape and style remind me very much of the Indian Sub Continent. It could be a ceremonial dagger.

http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=2082

waywardangler

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #9 on: January 06, 2011, 01:55:55 am »
Khanjar, dagger

Southern India, 16th century

The khanjar is of Marathi origin from southern India. It has a double-curved, double-edged blade, and the top of the handle ends with an animal head.

seeyouthere

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2011, 06:05:51 am »
Wayward, I am so sorry.  We have done a lot of traveling since that origional post and I had totally forgotten that my brother did that post back then.  I never even saw that one reply.  If that sounds like the correct information to you folks I will try to continue my research into it from there.  I want to find out if it has any value at all, potential for selling if it is worth it.
Thank you for the information.

Texasbadger

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #11 on: January 06, 2011, 07:38:29 am »
Sounds like an interesting story, here is a site I use to research blades that come to me at the shows.
http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/

seeyouthere

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2011, 07:44:15 am »
Hello again,

I am trying to find out more info on the possibility of this knife being Mongolian or even prior to when they were named "Mongolian". Reason being is that I can find no sources at all that tell of human sacrifice by the Mongols.  Founds tons about their brutality during raids and etc but nothing at all about human sacrifice by them.  So I tried to look even earlier than when their name officially became "Mongols" and cannot find any info referring to them doing human sacrifice those earlier tribes either.  Anyone have any clues or know where I can find info that shows they actually did do human sacrifices to help to verify this knife might be from the Mongolian empire?

waywardangler

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2011, 09:02:43 am »
What is often posted online is not necessarily true and needs to be further researched to determine facts.  I am not so sure what Hada posted about it being Mongolian is true.  I just skimmed the history of Mongolia on wikipedia and found nothing.  It also stated it came under rule by Tibetan Buddhists when this knife would date to and Buddhists did not condone animal sacrifices, killing, or human sacrifices so I find it hard to believe this knife is Mongolian.  It is likely from India where Hindus ritually practiced animal sacrifices.  I would think by the shape of the blade and the animal head on the handle that this is a khanjar from India.  Khanjar blades are double edged and it is hard to tell if your knife has been sharpened on both edges at one time.  With the animal head on the handle, I would think this knife was used in animal sacrifices and not human.  You would need an expert collector of foreign knives to really tell you what you have.

sapphire

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Re: Help identify knife-PLEASE
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2011, 09:56:49 am »