Larger bladed camp knife

[British Red]

Its a long story,

A few years ago I say a picture of a knife on E-bay and just though..."Wow". It was a bare knife but the hilt was amazing. It was poorly described and I won it ...for a tenner.

I was delighted when I received it as it clearly was ivory / bone inlaid with gold pins and wire. I've asked around a bit more and opinons seem to suggest an African Flyssa or Turkish Yataghan. Clearly the blade has been sharpened over a long, long time - more than a hundred years certainly, possibly much more.

So, display or use. ..well it had no sheath so it was always displayed..but recently I chatted with Singteck and he said "I'll give it a go". I've seen his work a lot and thought "sure - why not".

Anyway, enough blather. Its not really bushcrafty but I think you might like it...

Red


Really interested to hear Wayland and Toddy's view on this one

 

[OldJimbo]

That's some stunning traditional blade, and despite what many would think about bushcraft blades, I could get on very well with it!
I'm really amazed by the sheath and how a modern approach fits so well with the knife. I'd believe that there's more thought and effort into that sheath than a person would first suspect...

 

[Toddy]

Singteck just keeps getting better and better, doesn't he?
I'm probably totally in the wrong but at first glance it looks Indian to me. Wayland's probably the much better judge.
What was the opinion on BB?

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Shinken]

That is fantastic! i have a plan for it...... Give it to me

 

[British Red]

Ash,

Let me think about (for a couple of centuries )

Mary - BB gave me the Yataghan (from Turkey or one of the "istans") or possibly North African. A couple of people suggested a trip to the "house of lovely weaponry" (Royal Armouries). I dunno though - it owes me nothing and it feels so nice to hold and use I may just keep it as a camp knife

The BB thread is here

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16620

I'm glad you approve Jimbo - its a lovely thing - I do have a feeling of feeling I need to stand in a shield wall though . Being in the right place at the right time works out sometimes huh?. I left the design entirely to Singteck and as you say, it doesn't feel wrong at all!


Red

 

[chrisanson]

Nice blade red! And I think the leather work really is complementary to what is obviously a well used and therefore well cared for knife. I like.
chris

 

[sam_acw]

wonderful bit of kit. Just think, whoever made it was probably a master bladesmith working with his master carver friend. Yet of all their work yours is probably the only one still doing its job!
There is plenty of 16th an 17th century ottoman stuff here for me to look at and the craftsmanship on your blade stand up with the best in quality (not as ostentatious though) My best guess would either be an earlier period or a origin further East. I'm by no means an expert though and I'll keep an eye out to see if I can find something useful.
Having read that thread and spent way too many of my days at university in the Leeds Royal Armouries I'd go with an uneducated guess of 18th century Indian. I've seen stuf like it in the armouries where 18th and 19th century Indian weaponry is common but nothing here where 17th and 18th century Turkic weaponry is on show.

 

[British Red]

Thanks for the insight sam...any info you could give would be great! Its certainly a lovelyu knife and I would love to know what I'm carrying!

Red

 

[Shinken]

Come on Red ill give you 50 quid for it, that five times what you paid plus ill give you twice the cost of the sheath on top!

 

[OldJimbo]

Is the British word for line-up still "queue"?

 

[weaver]

Looks to me as it may be worth a "ton".

 

[British Red]

Yeah, sorry Ash I think Jimbo was ahead of you in the queue. I like your notion of calcualting the worth of something based on the costs of the parts that go into it though. I must remember that next time you post one of your lovely one off knives

Red

 

[Shinken]

I dont thnk mine are lovely, but just wait for my next one to appear. Definatly something different.

Will begging help?

 

[British Red]

Dunno,

Would it make you give away about half a dozen knives?

Do you really like it that much?

Red

 

[sam_acw]

Having looked on Wikipedia it looks more like the African Flyssa than the Turkish knife. Wikipedia is pretty fallible though.

 

[British Red]

Thanks Sam,

It seems the experts are concurring someone else told me "Flyssa for sure"

I guess "nice knife" has it covered

Red

 

[Toddy]

I have seen a very old flencing knife that looked very like it too; similar embellishment on the handle which was made of walrus ivory, but no goldwork

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[British Red]

OOOh (embarassed here)

Whats a flencing knife ???

Red

 

[Toddy]

It's used to slice up a whale for blubber and meat.
Usually they are long and curved, almost like a hockey stick, but smaller hand held ones were used too.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[British Red]

Aaah,

You are a mine of information Mary

I have sliced a lot of stuff - but never a whale

Ta mate

Red