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Flea Market Knife

Any ideas on origin? Looks pretty old. Leather on sheath looks very old and is quite brittle. Marks on blade look to have been added long after the blade was made. Seem to be put on with a rotary tool which is inconsistent with the rest of the way the knife is built. Was only $15 and worth every penny for the mystery alone! Would love any input or ideas on any of it!! Thanks for looking!!!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on January 9, 2013 at 21:14

I would agree Spencer, those marks are post production. My guess, if there are no marking at the base of the blade, if its blank, I would say it is a hand made knife. Normally on a production knife, or even a custom knifeyo u will see a stamp of some kind. Great knife and sheath combo though for the cash!

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Permalink Reply by Spencer on January 9, 2013 at 21:36

Thanks, Steve! It being handmade was what I was guessing at also. There definitely appears to be no stamp or identifier towards a knife maker. Wondering what the origin of culture could be? Maybe Native American or even North African? Just making wild guesses, as I've no real knowledge on the knives and art of these peoples, only gleaned info in passing...The leather on the sheath looks to be at least 75-100 years old, but its always hard to tell with leather since it's environment can effect it so much. I've never seen a handle wrapped in cloth like this...

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on January 9, 2013 at 21:41

You know it does have a quite a mark of culture on it. Looking at it again you wonder if whoever made it wasn't trying for some type of tribal or ceremonial knife.

Spencer said:

Thanks, Steve! It being handmade was what I was guessing at also. There definitely appears to be no stamp or identifier towards a knife maker. Wondering what the origin of culture could be? Maybe Native American or even North African? Just making wild guesses, as I've no real knowledge on the knives and art of these peoples, only gleaned info in passing...The leather on the sheath looks to be at least 75-100 years old, but its always hard to tell with leather since it's environment can effect it so much. I've never seen a handle wrapped in cloth like this...

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Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on January 9, 2013 at 23:18

For $15.00, looks like you got an enigma on your hands, Spencer.

The engravings in the 3rd pic look like a combination of phoenician and runic alphabet, finished off with a tic-tac-toe code on the bottom. My guess is that a previous owner wanted a special "history" to go with the knife.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on January 11, 2013 at 16:42

Well I am with you, worth every penny to have it and be discussing the possibilities. JJ, pardon me but what is phoenician and runic alphabet

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Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on January 11, 2013 at 20:30

Forerunners of Greek and Scandinavian alphabets.
The more I look at it though, the more I think the knife may have it's roots in Central America.

Jan Carter said: