Hello, this item is a folding hawkbill-style knife, more accurately dating to the late 19th to early 20th century rather than the 1500s. The curved blade form is associated with pruning, rope-cutting, agricultural, and maritime utility knives commonly used throughout Europe. The stamped mark visible on the blade appears to read “P. Deauza Thiers,” or a closely related variation, referring to the French cutlery center of Thiers, France, which has been one of Europe’s major knife-making regions since the early modern period. The construction, steel finish, folding mechanism, and overall manufacturing characteristics are consistent with an industrially produced working knife from approximately 1880 to 1930. The dark handle material may indeed be horn, possibly buffalo horn or another natural horn material, which was frequently used for durable working knives of this period. The shape resembles a gardener’s or viticulture pruning knife more closely than a Renaissance-era sailor’s knife.

Condition shows heavy oxidation, blade pitting, surface corrosion, sharpening wear, and age-related degradation to both the blade and handle. The folding mechanism appears intact, though wear is significant throughout. While attractive as a rustic antique tool, the knife does not display characteristics associated with 16th-century European edged weapons or early handmade Renaissance cutlery. Comparable French regional working knives from Thiers generally remain collectible within the antique tools and cutlery market, especially when retaining maker’s marks and horn handles. Based on the visible condition, rarity, and market demand, the fair market value is approximately $120 to $300 USD.