Wooden Knife

[Armed_Chicagoan]

I'm wondering if it's not a knife, but a peg of some sort?

 

[James K]

I did think of that, but I think the handle and guard are too obviously like a knife. A rope peg or something like that would probably just have a round hole.

Jim

 

[johnwilliamson062]

I think it is a toy. Pressed wood with varnish wouldn't be out of place for a toy at that time.
Movie props are rubber now, but 110 years ago they likely were not. Watch a few silents and you will notice many were not any better than common stage props.
The films of the Maine exploding in 1988 were supposedly mostly shot with crudely carved blocks of wood in bathtubs, although I don't think any actual footage survives today.

 

[44 AMP]

but I think the handle and guard are too obviously like a knife.

Toy, likely. To me, the handle is not very "knifelike", as the gripping handle is not in line with the "blade".

I think it likely that it was not a purpose made toy, originally. I can easily see where it could have been a pin, or peg, or a handle from some piece of machinery, made into a toy or a letter opener later by someone carving down the shaft to resemble a sheath / scabbard, complete with paint & varnish.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Letter opener?

 

[wizrd]

It's the mythical, fabled 'vorpal blade' -- from 'The Jabberwocky'.

 

[44 AMP]

only if it goes "snicker snack"...