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Novelty Cretan knife and questions

ro Offline Corwyn

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Novelty Cretan knife and questions
on: August 19, 2018, 05:55:09 PM
Hi guys,

I was visiting Knossos palace last week and managed to get my wife to buy a knife at the souvenir shop.
It looks rather cool and I understood it is traditional, plus it is my first new knife in ages.

  • Is it really traditional or just a touristy-gimmick?
  • What is the handle made of? i'd say billy goat horn.
  • What does the writing say? Any Greek speakers can help? I think it's a wise Cretan quote.





« Last Edit: August 19, 2018, 06:15:43 PM by Corwyn »
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Offline Ray S

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Re: Novelty Cretan knife and questions
Reply #1 on: August 19, 2018, 07:07:26 PM
I believe it is in commemoration of a battle between the Greeks and Turkey. Sorry my world history is not that great. I have a couple of souvenir knives from Greece and was told that was what it symbolized by a co-worker who was originally from Lebanon and could read the inscriptions.


us Offline Poncho65

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Re: Novelty Cretan knife and questions
Reply #2 on: August 19, 2018, 07:53:06 PM
Dks and Nikos are both from there so a PM to them might get some good answers :tu: dks hasn't been on for a while though but he does do that once or so a year :think: and nikos hasn't been on for about the same time :salute: either way it is a cool knife :like: :like:
« Last Edit: August 19, 2018, 07:54:35 PM by Poncho65 »


au Online ReamerPunch

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Re: Novelty Cretan knife and questions
Reply #3 on: September 24, 2018, 10:43:38 AM
  • Is it really traditional or just a touristy-gimmick?
  • What is the handle made of? i'd say billy goat horn.
  • What does the writing say? Any Greek speakers can help? I think it's a wise Cretan quote.

(Image removed from quote.)

I went to Greece last year, and picked up some knives too. In Crete, I got a little fixed blade, with the same limerick, and two folders.

1. Well, it's both. It used to be common, especially in Crete, for men to carry a knife on their belt. I did see a few old men with knives, though wooden handles, not horn.
2. Either goat or ram. I opted for wooden handles.
3. That's a traditional Mantinada. Four verses, with "a-b-a-b" rhyming scheme.
That's one of the two common ones on knives in tourist shops.
"A gift I give you from my heart, this knife here,
to look at it and think of the one who gave it to you."

« Last Edit: September 24, 2018, 10:45:45 AM by ReamerPunch »


cy Offline dks

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Re: Novelty Cretan knife and questions
Reply #4 on: September 24, 2018, 08:46:34 PM
The knife just says it is a gift,  to remember the friend who gave it to you.

They write it on many knives sold to tourists,  but it should be good for everyday use. Usually they are decent quality.

I have a few, folding and fixed. They also sell, in Crete, more expensive thicker ones, made with files, that are to be used by shepherds. I have one. The ram handle is traditional, but the shape of it is more ornamental than of any practical  purpose.

Be careful as the ram horn handles may not be treated and can get eaten by worms - mine did.

here are a couple of photographs, posted before





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