Moshe Dayan Personally-Owned Presentation Kukri Knife

A curved kukri blade, measuring 6" x 1.25", totaling 9.25" x 1.25" in length. The silver-colored blade has a notched choil near the base, and has "NFRAL" stamped near the handle. Black handle with metal hardware. The butt of the knife is decorated with a small lion head. Similar to other Nepalese Gurkha kukri knives, this knife has an ornate, brass-colored sheath. Decorated with intricately carved leaves and glass beads on the front. The inside is lined with leather. There is a metal loop on the back for ease of transportation and use. This knife previously belonged to Israeli military leader, Moshe Dayan. The collection was sold by his son in 2015 and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Kedem Auction House. Expected wear and soiling, with some areas of light rusting. Minor scratches in places. Please refer to the photographs for further condition information. Overall, very good.

Moshe Dayan served as the Israeli Defense Minister during the Six-Day War (1967) and emerged on the world stage as the face of Israeli resistance. In his 1976 autobiography, “Moshe Dayan: Story of My Life,” he wrote of collecting antiquities, "It is these ordinary articles that provide the bond, intimate, personal, with the wonderful world of antiquity, a world that has fallen silent but has not vanished...I have no other hobby or sport. Most free hours are spent on these antiquities…” Dayan was known for his historical hobby, with Bob Wiedrich describing him in his April 19, 1971 article as “Israel’s foremost collector of archeological artifacts”, noting that “Gen. Dayan makes a practice of paying only by personal check when he acquired treasures of ancients from Arab shopkeepers in Old Jerusalem…”

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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