A 19th century naval dirk from Eastern Europe??

ariel · 10th March 2006, 08:37 PM

The scabbard looks home made with standard parts.
The blade also looks shortened.
Are we sure it irt was intended to look like that or is it a reworked sword?

not2sharp · 10th March 2006, 10:31 PM

Ariel,

I believe it was intended to look like that:

1) The blade taper has the strong ending withing a few inches of the guard. If it were a full sword it would have extened much further and grinding it down wouldn't have made sense and would have altered the shape of the fuller.

2) The blade thickness is about a 1/4 dropping to 3/16 a few inches in front of the guard. That seems light for most swords.

3) The blade curvature is fairly servere. Extending the curve for a further 12 to 20 inches would leave with something shaped like a shotel; and, this doesn't strike me as a shotel.

4) The handle is very small, perhaps made for a hand that that is no more then 2-1/2 inches wide. Again, consistent with the blade, but inconsistent with the notion of hacking down a sword blade. You would have to cut the tang considerably.

5) The scabbard is significantly old. The whole piece strikes me as having been overly cleaned or restored (as in the outside of the scabbard may have been painted or tarred) Which gives it a fresher look then really should have.

6) The mounts are fairly heavy steel. Simple, but more like military mounts then a decorative casting or backyard project.

On second though this may not be a dirk at all. It looks more like a 18-19th century child's sword.

n2s

ariel · 11th March 2006, 03:51 AM

The handle looks too big for a child.

not2sharp · 15th March 2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

The handle looks too big for a child.

Perhaps; if so, what do we have here?

n2s

Andrew · 15th March 2006, 07:34 PM

For a woman, perhaps?

Tim Simmons · 15th March 2006, 08:38 PM

Last weekend I nearly bought a large curved bowie style knife from North Indian/Nepal, the scabbard was more like a kukri scabbard and badly split putting me off. The handle was really rather similar as was the blade but with a enlarged clipped tip. I wonder is this from the subcontinent? The scabbard might suggest so? A nice blade, nice knife. Tim

not2sharp · 16th March 2006, 05:28 PM

Tim,

The sheath is leather over wood with hand stiching along the back (much like a khukuri); but, I had not associated this with Nepal. Can you post or link a photo of that other knife?

n2s

10th March 2006, 08:37 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The scabbard looks home made with standard parts. The blade also looks shortened. Are we sure it irt was intended to look like that or is it a reworked sword?

10th March 2006, 10:31 PM	#2
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	Ariel, I believe it was intended to look like that: 1) The blade taper has the strong ending withing a few inches of the guard. If it were a full sword it would have extened much further and grinding it down wouldn't have made sense and would have altered the shape of the fuller. 2) The blade thickness is about a 1/4 dropping to 3/16 a few inches in front of the guard. That seems light for most swords. 3) The blade curvature is fairly servere. Extending the curve for a further 12 to 20 inches would leave with something shaped like a shotel; and, this doesn't strike me as a shotel. 4) The handle is very small, perhaps made for a hand that that is no more then 2-1/2 inches wide. Again, consistent with the blade, but inconsistent with the notion of hacking down a sword blade. You would have to cut the tang considerably. 5) The scabbard is significantly old. The whole piece strikes me as having been overly cleaned or restored (as in the outside of the scabbard may have been painted or tarred) Which gives it a fresher look then really should have. 6) The mounts are fairly heavy steel. Simple, but more like military mounts then a decorative casting or backyard project. On second though this may not be a dirk at all. It looks more like a 18-19th century child's sword. n2s

11th March 2006, 03:51 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The handle looks too big for a child.

15th March 2006, 07:34 PM	#5
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	For a woman, perhaps?

15th March 2006, 08:38 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Last weekend I nearly bought a large curved bowie style knife from North Indian/Nepal, the scabbard was more like a kukri scabbard and badly split putting me off. The handle was really rather similar as was the blade but with a enlarged clipped tip. I wonder is this from the subcontinent? The scabbard might suggest so? A nice blade, nice knife. Tim

16th March 2006, 05:28 PM	#7
not2sharp Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 210	Tim, The sheath is leather over wood with hand stiching along the back (much like a khukuri); but, I had not associated this with Nepal. Can you post or link a photo of that other knife? n2s