Unusual dagger for I.D. and comment.

[colin henshaw]

Hi

This strange dagger came recently with some ethnographic items I wanted.

The handle has an unusual triple bar type construction, one bar of which ends in a snake head. Length of dagger only is about 26cm. In fact it fits well in the hand and feels like a serious weapon, not a decoration piece. From the patina and wear to the scabbard, I would say it has been worn, probably on a belt for quite some time. Maybe a fighting knife of some sort, perhaps a one-off ?

Can anyone identify this piece ?

Thanks in advance.

[Gavin Nugent]

A very nice example. I believe these are referred to a Nail knife from France.

You'll find the info in this link interesting, also with a similar snakes head pictured within.

http://plowshareforge.blogspot.com/2007/09/french-nails.html

Gav

[kronckew]

yup, french nail knife, ww1, they made a lot of these out of the steel barbed wire support poles and/or large nails.

another (mine) :

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/knives/FrenchNailcopy.jpg

more info in my post HERE (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpost.php?p=63856&postcount=14) in THIS THREAD (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6553&highlight=french+nail)

[colin henshaw]

Thanks to Gav and kronckew - mystery solved !

[TimW]

It is indeed a French army knife. There is a good book written on this topic: http://www.amazon.fr/couteaux-nos-soldats-G%C3%A9rard-Lecoeur/dp/2703001959 I have it at home and will have a look. If i find more info on the knife in question, I'll let you know. There were several makers / types around.

cheers


Tim