Mystery - dagger found in wall space

M ELEY · 29th January 2012, 03:18 AM

Hmmm...could be a plug indeed. The brass is primitively cast. I doubt it's earlier than mid-19th and possibly much newer. If 19th, it could be American, Confederate CW, as they were known for crude, one-off pieces (like trench pikes, boot knives, etc). Could be Span colonial or Mexican, again for crudeness. Don't think it's European. Last guess, African?? Those blunt quillons were popular on French/Amer knives ca 1860's. Note some naval dirks had them, but this is NOT a naval piece.
-Looks too business-like to be a simple letter opener or tourist-

Stan S. · 29th January 2012, 05:10 AM

Definetely not African

M ELEY · 29th January 2012, 06:14 AM

I mentioned African because in the late 19th, there were knives that were mimicing the Euro daggers of the time. The Dahomey knives in particular come to mind. Their hilts were primitive, of brass, white metal or often aluminum. Anyway, you are right. Probably not African.

29th January 2012, 03:18 AM	#1
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,185	Hmmm...could be a plug indeed. The brass is primitively cast. I doubt it's earlier than mid-19th and possibly much newer. If 19th, it could be American, Confederate CW, as they were known for crude, one-off pieces (like trench pikes, boot knives, etc). Could be Span colonial or Mexican, again for crudeness. Don't think it's European. Last guess, African?? Those blunt quillons were popular on French/Amer knives ca 1860's. Note some naval dirks had them, but this is NOT a naval piece. -Looks too business-like to be a simple letter opener or tourist-

29th January 2012, 05:10 AM	#2
Stan S. Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 227	Definetely not African

29th January 2012, 06:14 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,185	I mentioned African because in the late 19th, there were knives that were mimicing the Euro daggers of the time. The Dahomey knives in particular come to mind. Their hilts were primitive, of brass, white metal or often aluminum. Anyway, you are right. Probably not African.