Yes Tatyana, there are some similarities between my dagger and the one you have referenced, but I'm not sure that these similarities are sufficient to let us say that it is from the area of Afghanistan. Before I posted these pics , I went through all the weapons books I have---and I have a lot--- there are features in this dagger of mine that can be linked to probably half a dozen countries, including USA. Its a tricky one. For me, at any rate.Thanks for your suggestion.
Yes Ian, the tang does run full length, has a slight taper , and has caused very considerably staining of the horn. The horn is pale, and there is pale buffalo horn, but what type of horn this is, I would hestitate to say. The grip plates have a lot of history evidenced in them by scores, depressions and general wear, but are still tight and undeformed.The quillons do look European, certainly, but the fit and finish of the gaurd to the blade is very much what I would expect of a village smith, rather than a cutler.Yes, there is no doubt in my mind that this is pre-1900, and based on material and general patina, I would place it maybe 100 to 150 years prior to that. My age question was in the hope that somebody with more knowledge than I have of this type of thing would recognise a style and type of workmanship, and be able to locate it with reasonable precision.It was part of an auction lot of mixed daggers that I bought locally.Thank you Ian for your contribution.
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