This just finished on eBay....any ideas
 

A crude (read 'undecorated) looped handled curved dagger just finished on eBay....certainly not a high end piece ..but has functional charm.....missed the auction otherwise it might have ended up living with me.

I like this type of weapon....no pretentions , just functional. Seems to have some age, I think the stated origins are unlikely, especially the reference to the 'Thugees' whom strangled their victims not stabbed them. I wondered if anyone had any ideas. Was thinking some sort of well made 'village' piece?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEWA:IT&ih=012

Thanks David

I was looking at that one too. I thought it might be tool. Or, it might be a crude bichwa.
Shawn

I don't know. It looks to me like something a blacksmith would do to amuse himself or test his skill. I have seen railroad spike knives made in the same vein. I have also seen cable knives where cable is welded and a blade formed from it leaving the strands to show. It could be genuine but similiar types exist with no fancy story behind them.

I agree with Mross a blacksmith special.

Lew

Maybe a "blacksmith knife" like this one...or :rolleyes: just a knife with a viking design

I agree--modern made blade. Looks pretty cool.

IT REMINDS ME OF THE VARIOUS SIMPLE FORMS OF WEAPONS MADE BY PRISONERS KNOWN IN THE USA AS SHIV'S. THEY CAN BE MADE FROM MOST EVERYTHING FROM A NAIL, BONE, CAN, GLASS OR A PIECE OF SILVERWARE.
BUT IT LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN FORGED WHICH WOULD BE VERY UNLIKELY IN PRISON SO I WOULD ALSO SUSPECT IT TO BE A SIMPLE KNIFE MADE BY A BLACKSMITH.

Thanks Gentlemen :) ,
I suspected as much....still it does have a certain amount of 'charm'. The blade seems to be reasonably well made/forged .

Regards David

Another one that comes to mind is a medieval Dussack: a simple and cheap sword-size weapon used by the Czech Hussites. It absolutely required a heavy leather glove.

Couple of modern traditional blacksmiths make a knife that's combined with a flint striker. That's what this one looks like.

F

Looks a lot like an old dussage! and it seems like these were some sort of blacksmith test item. The far fetched description on the item is incredible! It seems that often the 'thuggee' term is dragged out and used as a colorful term by people who have no knowledge on this cult whatsoever. The thugs only specific weapon was actually a ceremonial axe used for burials. Of course there may have been other weapons used, but nothing distinct and depended on local weapons in the area.

Interesting
 

Maybe someone can bring them to light but weren't there simple trench knives made in the world wars that followed a simple pattern similar to this??

regards

Gav

I believe what you are refering to is trench knife, basically a knuckle duster attached to a knife. A "D" guard bowie will also sort of fit.

trench knives encompass a wide variety of issue and improvised weapons used for close hand to hand fighting in the ww1 trenches. this (attached) is a screen dump from http://www.snyderstreasures.com/page...kle_knives.htm which shows quite a variety including the french nail knives. german grabendolch trench knives were usually a bit more conventional spearpoint blade, short or long giard, wood scales, steel scabbard with leather blet loop, etc. no knucklebows...

another more elaborate french nail version, smith had time to forge a real blade on this one. i've seen them with similar triple rod hilts and the more common rough spearpoint-like nail blade. repro's abound so caveat emptor.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...enchNail1a.jpg

Great info Kronckew ;) ,
trench made knives and daggers fabricated 'in field' were very varied. Made for use, in what was known as 'trench clearing' :eek: the majority I have seen tend to be stabbing impliments, with simple needle/stiletto blades. Easily made and effective.

What struck me about the 'knife' which started the thread, is the deliberate curve of the blade. It seems idealy suited for slashing, and with a shortish blade suggested it may have required some skill to use (if it is indeed a weapon). I was thinking it may have been used in a similar way as the Indonesian Karambit, perhaps in pairs, one in each hand (been watching too many martial art films I suppose ;) )

I suppose this could be a tool, but seems to small for an agricultural tool (although I believe the Karambit started life as a 'crop cutter') or effective as a wood working tool. :shrug: Having said all that, I hope I'm not going down the 'same road' as I did with my 'deadly' Asparagus Spear.....eh Kronckew :D

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=asparagus

Regards David

reminds me a bit of this viking ''woman's knife''
http://www.jelldragon.com/images/th_womans_knife.jpg
yours is just a bit more macho.

possibly grip/ grip-blade angle has been bent a bit more than when 1st made? i suspect that when the blade was forged single edged it naturally formed a curved blade as the edge was hammered thinner the displaced metal bends the spine. double edged and spear point variants do not have that problem (or feature). somebody wanted a slicer rather than a thruster.

(still might be a victorian gardening impliment ;) )

shortly after the above, i found this one on ebay:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...chNailcopy.jpg
as i didn't have one, it's now mine.