[J. Mares]

I have no idea what this is i was hoping i could get some help. I found it in the basement of a house i just moved into, in a cubby hole in the wall. I think it is a replica of something since the handle feels kinda light and cheap. It also has something written on it some of it is worn off, says something bout a river and moro i dont know. Well any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymares/Sword#5272319218014546354
http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymares/Sword#5272319199830507938
http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymares/Sword#5272319199830507938

[Sean Flynt]

I'd like to see an overall shot, including some kind of scale if possible (ruler). Full text of etching and maker marks would be most helpful.

I get a fascist vibe from this piece. That stylized eagle head, quasi-historical design, gothic German etched text, aluminum (?) furniture--it just looks like it would pair well with a brown shirt. The Nazis, in particular, seem to have been fond of appropriating medieval knife forms for paramilitary organizations--pathfinders, youth, etc. Yours (the hilt, at least,) bears a suspicious resemblance to some medieval German and Italian designs.

I have a german sword of this period and it has the same cheapish look to it (aluminum was fashionable at the time and didn't necessarily have the low-rent associations we now have).

Do you live in Germany, Austria or Italy, by any chance? If so, and if this is a 1930s/40s fascist piece, there was good reason for the previous owner to hide this in a wall after the war. It very likely would have been confiscated by the Allies.

[J. Mares]

well i live in the USA. The first picture is a full shot with a tape measure. the second is of the only maker marking type i could find on the blade. The inscriptiion is really faded and i can only get a few words of it, the other side of the blade has some sort of feline like a cheetah or a leopard. Here is what i can get of the inscription "Alzale La Rienda Al Moro haber" then its unreadable till the next line where it continues "Al Otro Lado Del Rio Le Quita Las" Then it becomes unreadable again.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymares/Sword#5272337548733778322
http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymares/Sword#5272337570392794450
http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymares/Sword#5272319227550930130

[Christopher Gregg]

J., I believe your knife is a Mexican tourist piece from the post-WWII era, maybe '50's or '60"s. I've seen a few like it in tourist shops. They were not very expensive, but your piece is at least older, so maybe it's worth something. Pretty neat that you found it "stashed" away.

[J. Mares]

thank you guys for all your help!

[Hal Siegel]