Dagger
 

Here is a nice dagger I picked up recently that as usual I would like to have everyones comments on. The blade is the same on both sides, not flat on one side like alot of these were.


blade length is 14-7/16 inches
blade width at widest point is 1-1/2 inches
blade thickness at thickest point 5/16 inch
hilt length is 4-3/4 inches
grip is wood

I wonder if this started its life as a spear, just a thought

IT DOES APPEAR TO HAVE A BUILT IN BOLSTER LIKE SPEAR HEADS BUT IT LOOKS FLAT RATHER THAN ROUND WHICH WOULD BE UNUSUAL FOR A SPEAR BLADE. THE HANDLE IS ALSO SORT OF STRANGE WITH THE GUARD AND POORLY CARVED MONSTER HEAD POMMEL. IT DOES LOOK LIKE A LOT MORE WORK WENT INTO MAKEING THE BLADE THAN THE FITTINGS SO THE BLADE IS PROBABLY OLDER AND MOST LIKELY A SPEAR HEAD. A INTERESTING ITEM :cool:

Vandoo and RhysMichael,
I don't really think this blade was ever a spear. The blade is not straight, it actually curves downward as it goes toward the point, though it is hard to see this in these pictures. I do believe like you that it has been rehilted at some point in time.

Robert

I was wondering about the curve. And are the two "halves" of the blade, on either side of the spine, of different widths or is that just the camera angle? Perhaps it was originally made as a dagger with a European cruciform mounting?

Mark,
The medial ridge is centered on the blade. If it was rehilted (like I think it could have been) I think the original hilt might possably have been a round horn grip with steel or brass ferrells and guard.

Hi Robert

I think your blade started out as a dagger I have seen this style on the ricasso before on an old dagger with a twin demon head hilt. Your piece seems to have been rehilted the wood and scabbard are too crude for such a fine quality blade. Still a very nice find!


Lew

Hi Lew,
You wouldn't happen to have a picture of the dagger that you were referring to would you?

Robert

The dagger in question belonged to Zelbone he may still have a picture of it.



Lew

I noted the curvature with a bit of excitement, as it resembles that of a dagger I own (which is DE chisel bevelled/triangular cross-section, as you mention this one is not). I believe this to be a feature related to the curvature of gunongs and ultimately of kris.

A Visayan dagger with Spanish influence
 

The dress of this dagger, with its deity hilt and scabbard typical of the Visayas, suggest that this one comes from the central Philippines. While the deity hilt might indicate western Visayas, the scabbard is more reminiscent of the eastern Visayas. The blade style is definitely of western influence, probably Spanish.

Speaking of Zel's double-head hilted deity dagger, here is a link to a previous thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attach...tid=4950&stc=1
It is the dagger at the bottom. The ricasso looks quite similar to the example posted above.

Ian,
Thank you for the information and the link. Like you I think it has definite Spanish influence to its styling. To me mine looks more like a cross between the second and third ones pictured in the link. The blade is more like the second while the ricasso is more like the bottom one. The other thing about mine is the blade has a slight downward curve to it that is hard to see in the pictures that I thought was interesting. Thanks again. :D


Robert

I think the curve is very important, and is a distinctly SE Asian influence.

I thought that I would drag up this old post in hopes of possibly getting some new information on this dagger. If some new pictures would help please just let me know and I will post them. Comments and any new information on this dagger would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


Robert

I'm with Ian, it has a Visayan look to me, especially the pommel and the scabbard.

Hello Jose, I also agree that it looks to be Visayan in its origin but the blade is really strange in its design to be from that region. The fact that it is double edged and has the same raised medial ridge on both sides, plus being that it is curved strikes me as being quite odd.:confused: As I stated early on if it wasn't for being curved I would think that it could be a re-hilted spear head.

Robert

Here are two pictures of the dagger that show both sides of the blade and how the blade has a slight curve to its shape and not straight as would normally be found on a spear tip. I hope that these might help.

Robert

AS I said, the curve is appropriate to the type; broadly a gunong or ie. kris-like sword/dagger. It is of a type, not singular, though as has been mentioned, most/many are triangle section, and do seem to be Visayan. I believe the handle is probably original.

almost certainly called a daga in its native culture, but perhaps a punal. Both are Spainish words, yes?

Visayan and/or Batangas? My little one has a full length tang and a very Batangoid spiral shape to its grip, but is of triangle section.