Eastern European Kinjal Dagger

ariel · 4th August 2018, 01:28 PM

It looks Turkish to me. Wild guessing, it might have been even made there in toto: blade, handle and custom scabbard. I agree that it is not very old.
The bone/horn combination is a usual feature of Caucasian kindjals and was also seen in the adjacent countries. The significance of it is simple: economy of materiel. The " white" part on higher-end examples was often made of relatively expensive ivory or walrus and was worn on the outside to impress the girls:-)

RobertGuy · 16th August 2018, 09:38 AM

Thanks for that Ariel.

motan · 19th August 2018, 07:04 PM

Hi,
I agree with Ariel (too often lately). A very generic type of Kindjal-like dagger that could be from anywhere in the Caucasus, Turkey or even Syria. Definitely not a tourist piece because it is too functional and not very ornamented. I really don't know the age, but it could be 100 y. The scabbard is not very old, but I am not convinced it is original (even though it is custom-made for this dagger).
The scabbard looks European- especially the broad leather loop which is common in many commando and Scandinavian knives, but not in any Caucasian or Middle Eastern daggers. Just a guess: it could belong to a soldier who got it as present, booty, or just bought it somewhere, and he ordered the scabbard at a leather shop.

RobertGuy · 20th August 2018, 08:02 AM

Thanks everybody. A pity I can't narrow it down but it does seem to be a very generic piece. I agree the scabbard seems European but is made for this knife and the whole package seems of nice solid quality and it is a pleasure to handle.

Oliver Pinchot · 20th August 2018, 05:53 PM

The waisted grips and short, bifullered blade indicate the general vicinity of Trabzon, but the type was carried throughout Turkey. This dates around the founding of the Republic.

4th August 2018, 01:28 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	It looks Turkish to me. Wild guessing, it might have been even made there in toto: blade, handle and custom scabbard. I agree that it is not very old. The bone/horn combination is a usual feature of Caucasian kindjals and was also seen in the adjacent countries. The significance of it is simple: economy of materiel. The " white" part on higher-end examples was often made of relatively expensive ivory or walrus and was worn on the outside to impress the girls:-)

16th August 2018, 09:38 AM	#2
RobertGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 135	Thanks for that Ariel.

19th August 2018, 07:04 PM	#3
motan Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 274	Hi, I agree with Ariel (too often lately). A very generic type of Kindjal-like dagger that could be from anywhere in the Caucasus, Turkey or even Syria. Definitely not a tourist piece because it is too functional and not very ornamented. I really don't know the age, but it could be 100 y. The scabbard is not very old, but I am not convinced it is original (even though it is custom-made for this dagger). The scabbard looks European- especially the broad leather loop which is common in many commando and Scandinavian knives, but not in any Caucasian or Middle Eastern daggers. Just a guess: it could belong to a soldier who got it as present, booty, or just bought it somewhere, and he ordered the scabbard at a leather shop.

20th August 2018, 08:02 AM	#4
RobertGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 135	Thanks everybody. A pity I can't narrow it down but it does seem to be a very generic piece. I agree the scabbard seems European but is made for this knife and the whole package seems of nice solid quality and it is a pleasure to handle.

20th August 2018, 05:53 PM	#5
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 465	The waisted grips and short, bifullered blade indicate the general vicinity of Trabzon, but the type was carried throughout Turkey. This dates around the founding of the Republic.