id small pretty letter opener
 

I finally found the forum I was looking for. If it's not here, then I don't know...
I'm Vitor T., I'm in Lisbon, Portugal, and for a few months now I've been trying to identify this small, beautiful letter opener that I inherited from my father.

I've already received the opinion of some experts, namely:
it's not Spanish,
it's from South America,
and the latest, which also seems most likely to me, is that it's a hunting knife "Jagdknicker", probably from eastern Germany or possibly western Central Europe, neo-Gothic style, 19th century around 1850-1860. I would like to confirm this identification.

There are a few issues. The mark or signature Jst. remains unidentified. Another is that after looking at thousands of images of knives and swords on the internet, I have yet to find others with the geometric elements of brass on the handle, or the composition and design of the handle, the figures on the blade, the shape of the blade, or a similar sheath.

Please help.
Thank you.

Greetings and welcome to our little forum!

Since it is European, I'll move this over to the European section where they could provide more help.

I don't know about it being a letter opener, but I like it.

Hello Vitor,

Welcome to the forum!
In my humble opinion you have a very old and nice "Nicker" (not Knicker) from Germany or from Austria. I have a small collection of these hunting daggers which are also part of the traditional costume in parts of both countries.

Regards,
Detlef

Thank you.
Sajen, I happen to have a similar one. But it's not the same thing.

They come in many different forms but the blade shape is the giveaway. The one in question from you seems to be very old, I never have seen a similar one. But it's for sure a "nicker"!

Regards,
Detlef

By very old, do you mean and agree on 1850–1860? Or older?

I can't put a real date on your nicker but I think that it's clearly from the 19th century.
I personally would clean it up a little bit.