Unknown Ethnic Knife

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Sajen

I have the feeling that Daniel get this dagger also like this, of course without the sheat.

About the price of a happy meal at McDonalds. In fact I only bought it as a cheap curiosity I thought might make for an interesting discussion on BladeForums. Someone there recommended I come here for an ID. This type of knife is completely out of my area of knowledge.

With most knives I deal in, rarity can be the kiss of death when it comes to value. If an item is too rare, nobody is looking for one. The expensive knives tend to be the ones that everybody recognizes and wants.

Ron--Is your blade of similar size to mine?

DD

[VVV]

Double posting, please delete.

[VVV]

The regular size of the Nias dagger's blades are around 9,5" but I have an old one that is 7,5".
I am sorry to bring out the bad news but that hilt isn't a traditional one and it seems to be made for people that enjoy travelling. For especially Nias and Batak there has been an active souvenir industry for a very long time.

Michael

[Sajen]

Hello Michael,

I know why I have been careful with my guess about the age before but that the dagger come without a sheath have let me think that it perhaps an old one. But a sheath can be lost as well by a copy. Since I know that you own several of this kind of daggers and you will have some old references as well I am sure that you are correct. But on the other hand I have to say that the Dagger from Daniel shows a good patination at the brass handle what show me again to be very careful by casted brass since it seems easy to let look it old.

Best regards,

Detlef

[VVV]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Michael,

[snip] you will have some old references as well [snip]

Hello Detlef,

One of the best references is Modigliani and several of his hilt-drawings are reprinted in van Z's book.

Michael

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VVV

Hello Detlef,

One of the best references is Modigliani and several of his hilt-drawings are reprinted in van Z's book.

Michael

Hello Michael,

thank you, will look by time for this. Still to get?

Regards,

Detlef

[David]

Originally Posted by VVV

The regular size of the Nias dagger's blades are around 9,5" but I have an old one that is 7,5".
I am sorry to bring out the bad news but that hilt isn't a traditional one and it seems to be made for people that enjoy travelling. For especially Nias and Batak there has been an active souvenir industry for a very long time.

This is what i was trying to point out at the start of this thread. The gripping area of this hilt seems to be at best less than 2.5 inches long. That hardly seems long enough for practical use...