help on identifying missing spare part
 

kindly requested to advise on this Ottoman dagger from the Balkans.
The handle has one hole and a hollowing on one side.
My question: what was originally placed there?

The hole is usual on this type of knife (most likely to tie it to the sheath), the hollowing looks like there was not enough material on the piece of horn that was used for the handle.

Also, this is not an Ottoman dagger from the Balkans, it's a khodmi knife from Algeria.

Yes, it's a Bou Saadi made khodmi from Algeria, badly re-wound with oversized wire. Can't see anything missing. Nice Utility knives, also often still sold in Europe as 'Medieval eating knives' - which they aren't.. Note the spine notch at the tip is deliberate. Most have them. Why? Nobody knows. Hole for a thong, hollowing is likely just the part of the bone used for the grip where the marrow was in life.

Mine:

Sometimes a picture is better than an explanation...

Thnx a lot, merci beaucoup ! Highly appreciate this swift reply and feedback.
Although it was sold as traditional Ottoman knife from the Balkans:
lessons learned and no use crying over spilled milk! ☺

indeed it is, much obliged !

Some lovely khodmi. I have 4 in my meager collection. One had a blade with several nicks in it, so I lightly sharpened it to remove the nicks, but no other cleaning. I don't know what steel they used on the old ones, but it takes an extremely sharp edge. Nothing "primitive" or "crude" about them. Just darn good knives by any term.

Rich