Small Philippine Dagger
 

My latest, a small "Spanish Colonial"? Philippine dagger.

Total length 11-1/2 inches
Hilt length 4-7/8 inches
Blade length 6-5/8 inches
Blade at thickest 5/16 inch
Blade at widest 1-1/4 inches
All fittings are brass.

The grip is horn with a spiral groove cut into it that is lined with a channel shaped brass strip. By the way the channel is secured into the groove at each end ( by a small nail) I also believe there might have been a twisted wire set into the channel at one time that is now missing.

As usual, all comments on this piece are welcome.

Robert

Hi Robert,
I can't really tell you much about yours. I have a single edged knife with a similar hilt. Supposedly the brass in the channels was to look similar to a sword hilt. Here's mine.

Steve Ferguson

Hi Ferguson,
At the ends of the brass channels on your knife how is the brass held in place? On this dagger there is a flat headed nail with the head being flush with the outer surface of the horn grip which leaves about 1/32 or a little more of the nail shank exposed. The nail head is not small enough to be driven down into the channel and there is enough room for a wire to easily go around the exposed nail shank. That is why I think at one time there might have been twisted white metal or coin silver wire in the channel and the nails held it and the brass both in place. I wish I had the sheath for mine like you have for yours. :D What are the dimensions of your knife?

I HAVE A DAGGER JUST LIKE THAT AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE I PICKED IT UP AROUND 1965. I WILL SEE IF I CAN DIG IT OUT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY WIRE IN THE HANDLE OR A SHEITH. I HAVEN'T SEEN MANY OVER THE YEARS SO I WOULD GUESS THEY ARE UNCOMMON. INTERESTING BLADE AS IT IS MADE TO LOOK ALMOST LIKE A SPEAR BLADE.

I have a similar hilted katipunan bolo and the nail keeps the twisted brass wire in the handle also, at both ends.

Mine has a hole about the width of the groove at the end of each channel. A dowel made of horn or wood holds the brass strip in. I'll post dimensions tonight.

Steve

Vandoo and Battara, could you post pictures and dimensions of the examples that you have? Would anyone like to make a call on whether or not this piece is Spanish Colonial? Thanks to everyone for your replies.

Robert

Dimensions on mine:
14" overall
8 1/2" blade length
1 5/8" blade width
Blade thickness .240" at guard

Pic of the hilt showing the horn pin that holds the brass in.

Steve