Anyone know about wierd sword things?

[Regallag_The_Axe]

My family found this sword thing (http://img406.imageshack.us/my.php?image=horn2cropped9hk.jpg) (that's a 12 inch (30 cm) ruler next to it) in my grandparent's house recently, and no one knows anything about it. Is it a replica of something, or just some kind of decoration, or what? Any info would be apreciated

[MikeG]

First impression is it's a fancy letter opener. How sharp is the blade?

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Interesting..what is the composition of the handle? Bone? Ivory? Wood? Another substance?

[Gorsnak]

Seems kinda big for a letter opener. But with that very narrow bit between the blade and the handle, it clearly isn't built for hard use as either a tool or a weapon.

[Q.E.D.]

Interesting..what is the composition of the handle? Bone? Ivory? Wood? Another substance?
It's almost certainly an animal horn of some sort. Reminds me of a bison or buffalo horn. Seems a bit on the large size for a letter opener. Are there any markings on the blade or anywhere else?

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

Is the blade brass or colored steel?

How strong is the joint between the blade & the handle?

[Regallag_The_Axe]

First impression is it's a fancy letter opener. How sharp is the blade?
Not too sharp, but it's old. A letter opener was one of things we thought it might be, but the blade is waaayyy too thick for that.

Are there any markings on the blade or anywhere else?
Nope, none.

Is the blade brass or colored steel?

How strong is the joint between the blade & the handle?
I think it's brass, but I'm not sure.
The joint is kind of shacky, but I'm fairly certain that that's more from age than anything else. My aunt says she remembers it from when she was a little girl, so that means it at least fifty years old.

[Cillasi]

Is the horn real or plastic? If it's a real horn, then it's probably some kind of authentic ceremonial knife - one end pierces, the other end cuts. If it's plastic, then it's probably a souvenir, probably from the Southeast Asia area.

[Regallag_The_Axe]

Is the horn real or plastic? If it's a real horn, then it's probably some kind of authentic ceremonial knife - one end pierces, the other end cuts. If it's plastic, then it's probably a souvenir, probably from the Southeast Asia area.
It's real horn.

[Operation Ripper]

It's real horn.

How'd you determine this?

[What Exit?]

Believe it or not, that looks like an expensive Trinket sold at Western shows like Wild Bill's as Genuine Indian Skinning knives. When was young Grandfather Born?
Could it be his father's?

Jim

[Operation Ripper]

Hit reply too soon, think I saw an Antiques Roadshow where they determined same by warming the end of a paperclip and sticking it in an out-of-the-way spot, and if it smelled like hair then was ivory. Don't take my word for this though.

[Bear_Nenno]

Not too sharp, but it's old. A letter opener was one of things we thought it might be, but the blade is waaayyy too thick for that.
Were envelopes always like they are today? Were envelopes in the past maybe thicker or just different in such a way that a thicker blade would have been more beneficial? The blade style should looks like a common letter opener.

[DocCathode]

The visible side of the blade angles outward. What's the other side do? Does the blade have a diamond cross section, or a V?

Real horn has a very distinctive smell. There's no need to burn it with a paperclip. If necessary, ask a Jewish friend if they have a shofar you can sniff.

I wonder if this knife is part of a gaudy big-white-hunter desk set of some kind. Something like a stuffed head humidor, an excessively large cigar cutter (as seen in the picture), and removing the tip of the other horn revealed a table lighter. I can also see a variant involving a tobacco pouch, rolling paperst etc. Or maybe one involving a liquor flask, shaker, and a blade for slicing lemons.

[Operation Ripper]

I wonder if this knife is part of a gaudy big-white-hunter desk set of some kind. Something like a stuffed head humidor, an excessively large cigar cutter (as seen in the picture), and removing the tip of the other horn revealed a table lighter. I can also see a variant involving a tobacco pouch, rolling paperst etc. Or maybe one involving a liquor flask, shaker, and a blade for slicing lemons.

With optional Elephant foot umbrella stand?

[DocCathode]

Exactly

[AskNott]

Hit reply too soon, think I saw an Antiques Roadshow where they determined same by warming the end of a paperclip and sticking it in an out-of-the-way spot, and if it smelled like hair then was ivory. Don't take my word for this though.

I'm guessing you meant horn instead of ivory. Horn is basically the same sort of tissue as hair and fingernails. Ivory is teeth, and the test for that is to tap the piece gently against your own tooth. If it clicks like a tooth would, it's ivory; if you get a softer sound, it's something else.

[Miss Purl McKnittington]

Real horn has a very distinctive smell. There's no need to burn it with a paperclip. If necessary, ask a Jewish friend if they have a shofar you can sniff.


I don't know anyone who has a shofar, but we always have a few cow horns floating around the premises, and they smell like dusty toenails. Really.

Regarding envelopes, once upon a time (as in the nineteenth century), people didn't always use them, and instead folded the pages of the letter and sealed them with wax--sealing wax, in fact. Most home handbooks have directions for folding envelopes and there were all sorts of delightful ways to fold love-notes. Most Victorian letter openers seem to be heavier than modern ones, especially if they're made of ivory or bone. A quick search on eBay will bring up all sorts of heavy letter openers. They're closer to the thickness of a modern bone paper folder than a modern letter opener. So I wouldn't be so quick to rule out the letter opener category, though it does seem extraordinarily long for it.

[Operation Ripper]

Exactly

Sometimes a monkey paw ashtray was thrown in if you ordered in the next 30 minutes.


Sorry, that was the last one

[ZipperJJ]

...a modern bone paper folder...

A whatnow?

[Eggerhaus]

...the blade looks like the blade of an autopsy knife but the handle sure as hell doesn't.

[Miss Purl McKnittington]

A whatnow?
A thisnow (http://www.impressrubberstamps.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Bone_Folder&Category_Code=T). You use it to make smooth, sharp folds in paper.

[Kinthalis]

I would wager that it's a type of letter opener, though some of the other guesses such as a showpiece souvenier sound equally plausible.

I can say with confidence that it's definately not a weapon. The tang is non-existent. Though a ceremonial piece is not ruled out by this.

[Triskadecamus]

I wonder if this knife is part of a gaudy big-white-hunter desk set of some kind. Something like a stuffed head humidor, an excessively large cigar cutter (as seen in the picture), and removing the tip of the other horn revealed a table lighter. I can also see a variant involving a tobacco pouch, rolling paperst etc. Or maybe one involving a liquor flask, shaker, and a blade for slicing lemons.Woah, Doc!

Reign it in a second, and consider if you want to publicly display this level of familiarity with the incredibly tasteless depths of ineterior decorating!

Tris

[jayjay]

consider if you want to publicly display this level of familiarity with the incredibly tasteless depths of ineterior decorating!

You've met him. I wouldn't be surprised if he's searched for this very desk set on eBay before...