Another Dagger For ID

[Robert]

Does anyone have any ideas as to the origin of this dagger?
Length is 11-1/4 inches.
Sheath is wood with metal fittings.
I believe the grip is horn or bone.
Sorry about the picture quality as it is the only one I have at this point in time.

[ariel]

The pic is not optimal, to put it mildly....
The square scabbard has Chinese/Tibetan flavor.

[derek]

The pic is not optimal, to put it mildly....
The square scabbard has Chinese/Tibetan flavor.

Agreed on both points. BTW, that's an ebay pic....

-d

[Robert]

Ariel and Derek,
Thank you for your replies. I was thinking that it might be of Asian origin but thought I'd ask instead of just guessing. I know the picture is bad, and yes it was an ebay picture. The price was reasonable so I bought it and will post better pictures when it arrives. Thank your for you answers.

[tom hyle]

Much about it looks Chinese, most especially the strip of metal that runs along the edge of the sheath, connecting two of the sheath bindings and providing the hanging rings, and I'm 70% it'll be a SE dao type blade, but there is a resemblance in the blade and its angling to the handle to a gunong I have that makes me wonder.

[Robert]

Well the dagger arrived so here are a couple of better pictures and a bit more info on it.

Blade length is 7-1/2 inches.
Blade width at guard is 7/8 inch.
Blade thickness at guard is 1/4 inch.
Grip length is 3-7/8 inches.
Grip is horn.
Guard is brass.
Tang extends through grip and is riveted over.
I don't beleave the scabbard is the correct one for this dagger.
Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

[tom hyle]

The incurved edge is the sharp one? I still think it's Chinese or Tibetan. The blade shape looks "worn back", but is a shape I know to be made as an initial shape in a number of cultures, including, though not limitted to, Chinese.

[Robert]

Tom,
Yes, The incurved edge (the lower edge in the picture) is the sharpened edge. The picture is not the best but I don't believe the blade to be "worn Back", I believe it was shaped that way when it was made. Any guesses as to its possible age?

[tom hyle]

I think it may be 19th or early 20th (in my idiolect thats wwII), or else a reproduction, and there are so very many Chinese reproductions now-days, and I'm not one to tell the difference real well, as many of them seem quite nice and traditional to me, but many look MUCH cheezier and newer in person than a photo; doesn't sound like yours; others though, seem quite nice to me in person, and to "fake" them up, are buried and thus "aged".....

[Robert]

Tom,
Thanks again for your input. Do you think that the scabbard is original to this dagger? It is made of wood covered with something that I can't identify. I can't find any seams in the cover and believe it is lacquer finished. All the fittings are brass. The dagger fits it well but to me it just does not look like the two go together.

[tom hyle]

It seems appropriate to me; this is basically a form of dao. I think the Chinese "bowies" in N America, which often have this exact blade style, have a different type, American influenced sheath; I'm trying to access a memory, but I can't get the dang drawer open; where's my screwdriver?..............

[Lew]

It seems appropriate to me; this is basically a form of dao. I think the Chinese "bowies" in N America, which often have this exact blade style, have a different type, American influenced sheath; I'm trying to access a memory, but I can't get the dang drawer open; where's my screwdriver?..............

Tom

I always found that a little WD-40 works well on those rusty hindges :D
Here is a link that might help! The top two are Chinese the bottom is Vietnamese.
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002555.html

Lew