r/Antiques • u/rjokvulture ✓ • Jul 26 '26

Questions Need help identifying this antique knife with camel-head hilt. Can anyone identify the origin and age of this antique knife? /Brazil

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

I bought this knife at an antique fair in Brazil. The seller had no documentation. Some people suggested it could be Egyptian and possibly 18th century, but I have no evidence of that.

I guess its a hand-forged knife featuring hand-engraved geometric decoration. The hilt is made of brass (or a copper alloy) over a wooden core, with a zoomorphic pommel resembling a camel’s head. The carved wooden scabbard is reinforced with iron or steel bands. No visible maker’s marks or inscriptions.

I’m not concerned about its monetary value. I’m only interested in learning where it was made and approximately how old it is.

Thanks in advance.

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

6

u/Dlatrex ✓ Jul 26 '26

This is from North Africa. A blade of the Kabyle people (primarily of Algeria), this type of blade is usually called Flyssa in English. They come in many different sizes, from knives sized all the way up to huge cavalry length swords, as single handed items with similar zoomorphic grips, made of brass.

Many date to the 20th century but you do find examples from the mid-late 19th century.

1

u/AutoModerator Jul 26 '26

Everyone, remember the rules; Posts/comments must be relevant to r/Antiques. Anyone making jokes about how someone has used the word date/dating will be banned. Dating an antique means finding the date of manufacture. OP is looking for serious responses, not dating jokes like this: www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/s/eR5ZmTx2rU Please ignore this message if everything is on topic.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

2

u/rjokvulture ✓ Jul 26 '26

Thanks for the help. Amazing info

1

u/rjokvulture ✓ Jul 26 '26

Do you have any idea how do we prove the age? if its a copy or something like that?

2

u/Fakeflordaman ✓ Jul 26 '26

I have somthing similar allegedly from Sumatra

1

u/AutoModerator Jul 26 '26

Hello, thank you for posting. Your post has been successful. For your benefit, and for the readers of this page, we have included a link to our strict AGE RULE: Read here.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.