19th century Cretan knife in Ottoman form
 

a small sized / little knife like a bichaq from Crete made either during the Ottoman era or based upon the knives from that period; 19th century.

Strange and sacrilage to me is that someone thought it necessary to engrave the blade. Mine with text and a date 1961
Not a single incident as you can see from one picture also found on another one I tracked on the internet (to see if mine was a forgery or something else) with a date 1951.

Dimensions:

total lenght: 19,8 cm
blade: 9 cm
handle: 19 cm
scabbard (wood covered with leather): 10,7 cm

handle with 3 rivets, 4 circular with dots decoration

Hi gp:

These knives have been discussed on this Forum previously. There is also a nice historical three-part description online, starting here, that traces the history, manufacture, and cultural significance of these knives.

What you have is a bone-handled version of a common form of Cretan knife made for those who travel. The modern Greek inscription and a rough outline of the island inscribed on the blade is typical. The 1961 date is probably an accurate reflection of when it was made.

I have a similar knife that was also dated 1961 and was discussed on the old UBB Forum (now no longer available). I will try to find the old pictures and post them.

Ian.

Much obliged for your swift reply and very interesting information and links!
I could hardly find anything at all, except for 2 sites whose owners were convinced it to be ancient Ottoman and one having a pricetag of 200 US$ to it.
Lucky I got mine for Euro 40 (still too much but a nice visualisation of a Cretan knife of earlier days nevertheless).
Thanks for your correction, most highly appreciated !

Last I heard the guy, made making these was still making them, by Apostolis in Xania,he was a Turk in the Greek part of the island but got along with his neighbours. His son might have taken over...He was getting old and his production had dropped.

I of course have one too. A bit newer.