An interesting .... what is it?
 

Hello all,

I don't mean to lean on the community so much for ID. I'm pretty good at doing my own research. This one has me stuck. Any thoughts?

The scabbard and hilt are all bone. Three sections for the scabbard. They fit together seamlessly, including a hemispherical bone cap at the bottom of the scabbard.

The pommel is brass as are two rings, one around the scabbard with rings for carrying it, the other at the base of the hilt, nailed to the bone to secure it. The fit to the scabbard is excellent. The brass has an embossed floral design.

Overall length is 15 inches. The blade alone is 8 1/4 inches long. The dagger is 3/4 inch wide uniformly until it tapers symmetrically to a point. The is a small flat ricasso before the cutting portion of the blade, a straight dagger with no distal taper. It is sharpened on both sides. Until I clean and polish it, it is hard to say definitively whether there is a pattern to the steel or I am just seeing wear and tear.

The simple black and red floral pattern on the scabbard is very skillfully done. It is quite simple but I hope it is distinct enough that somebody recognizes it.

Dave A

The metal work reminds me strongly of this style.
North Africa? Also, the two ring mounting style.

the floral decoration makes me think of an islamic nature / origin but for the Magreb the lines are a little too thin / refined.
Also its style and the blade does indicate another direction: Caucasus or even / rather one of the Central Asia countries...

Thanks GP.

I was thinking Caucasian, perhaps near the border with Turkey. The bone material somewhat matches a bone hilt in a Georgian kindjal from that area in my collection. The decorative red and black floral is what is throwing me off that track.I have not seen it before.

Dave A.

Hi Dave,

the red ist often used in Ottoman influenced regions; carnelian or also called cornelian
Less expensive than coral ( which is often used for the more expensive ones) and also easier to use when a smaller size is required and still keep the good look.
Have a look at these examples:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...0&postcount=12

The black could be used specially to create a more or better visual contrast against the white background of the bone; also oftern seen in calligraphic decorations of drawings at that time in Islamic regions.
It is very soft, yet pronounced present which does make it look good looking, elegant I dare say

best regards

Gunar

On close inspection, The red dots are indeed crystals set into holes in the bone. The black lines are very delicate. I don't feel any surface texture difference to the lines, but they are in very good condition, unlike the blade and other accoutrements. Thanks for the lead.

Dave