New piece
 

I have just "won" this, I am thinking Marsh Arab, Iraq. Thoughts and comments welcome.

I Believe You are Correct
 

David R,

I have one and have always thought the type is Iraqi Marsh Arab. Mine is a small and comparatively "Plain Jane" one like yours but I have seen really big ones all gussied up with silver furniture on the horn hilts.

Sincerely,
RobT

Me too, it's a smallish Marsh Arab one.

Arrived today and I am a bit conflicted. Hilt and scabbard nicely made with skill, and the blade a bit crude, filed up from sheet and blunt. Overall smaller than I expected. One of those that exists on the border between cheap and real, and a better example of a tourist piece.
You win some and you lose some, but I think I paid over the odds for this one, and would not have bought it if I had in hand before passing over the money!

That's unfortunate Dave. Been there and done that. Just part of buying online and not having the chance to handle the item. Same thing happened to me when buying from printed catalogs years ago. Those hidden gems have become harder to find.

I feel that it is 'real', as it were, although perhaps a 'status object' and therefore not a tourist item. Cheaply made blade, no doubt, but it may be unnecessary to have a good blade as long as the wearing of it confers some kind of status, such as 'Manhood'. Somebody definitely put some work into this, and since it's mostly in the appearance of the piece it was meant to be seen when a person wears it. Besides, even such an unrefined blade is capable of a killing thrust, so it's 'functional'. Is the blade lenticular or really grossly shaped? I can't tell from the photos. What's the size?

Thank you both for your comments, I feel somewhat happier about the item now, I think shipping and tax pushed the cost over the line in the end.... Partly because these only appeared at the end of the payment process. Hazards of buying on an international platform.

The blade is lenticuler in cross section though blunt edged. Overall length is 31 cm, so quite small.

The quality and degree of embellishment on the central band of the grip is generally a good indicator of age. This one is on the simple side and is probably not particularly old.

I have a marsh Arab knife/dagger with blade about 8'' that is very crude with unembellished wood grip and crude wooden sheath. Would post a pic, but it is in an antique consignment store.-- bbjw

I also guess that it's a real dagger and not made for those who travel but not antique but with some age. Just my humble opinion.