Hi all!
I have tested it's ability to pierce cardboard, it is definatly not funtional the only part to pierce was the bulb tip the other two tips blunted the stab into the evil box! But the steel quality is above the tourist pieces in my collection, so I think it is ceremonial and not a tourist sale piece. I have enclosed some close-ups of the art word on it and is not simple but is worn and well decorated. So this is late 19th. century... Seems like a very good appraisal of age. I do have an odd liking to tourist pieces, don't ask why I don't really know!
This is definately one of my favorite daggers either way. To me the decoration on it looks similer to a piece that was on "Oriental Arms.com"