help identifying this dagger

Montino Bourbon · 17th January 2005, 07:34 AM

The handle seems to be alternating rings of material; I don't know what it is, although tomorrow I will post a close-up of it. there are layers of different colors of material, with very thin metal between them, and the whole handle is fluted. I can't tell how the ferrule is attached. The dagger has been in my family since I was little, more than 60 years; it's possible that it has been in the family a long time. My family is a very old Italian family; on my father's side we trace our ancestry back to 907 C.E. for our present last name, (I have the family archives in my possession, but we are well known historically in Italy), farther if you go back to Roman times, and I have been told that we have Etruscan ancestry as well. It seems to be really nice steel, with an excellent armor-piercing point.

Montino Bourbon · 17th January 2005, 07:38 AM

I just examined the ferrule closely; it does not look like it has a seam. I'll post more pics tomorrow.

Rich · 17th January 2005, 10:18 AM

I think this is a style called a Mediterranian dagger.
Likely from southern Europe, French, Spain or Italy.
The style was around a long time, ca 1500 - 1900.
Hard to guess a date, but a nice looking piece.

Rich S

Yannis · 17th January 2005, 10:58 AM

It is mediteranian dagger. Italian, late 18th century, according to "Weapons" (The Diagram Group) encyclopedia, page 33.

RSWORD · 17th January 2005, 01:30 PM

Thank you for posting such a lovely knife. I really like the workmanship of the blade. It appears to be quite well made.

tom hyle · 17th January 2005, 02:12 PM

Beautiful, and correctly identified. I'll add that it is fairly likely though by no means certain to have been locally produced. The sculptural detail on the blade is sometimes used as a thumb-rest.

Montino Bourbon · 17th January 2005, 04:10 PM

You gentlemen are terrific! I hope that I can be as helpful to you when I get the chance.

Here is a close-up of the handle; I suspect that this dagger has been with my family for a while, since I doubt that my father or grandfather would have purchased such an object.

17th January 2005, 04:10 PM	#7
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	You gentlemen are terrific! I hope that I can be as helpful to you when I get the chance. Here is a close-up of the handle; I suspect that this dagger has been with my family for a while, since I doubt that my father or grandfather would have purchased such an object. Attached Images

17th January 2005, 07:34 AM	#1
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	The handle seems to be alternating rings of material; I don't know what it is, although tomorrow I will post a close-up of it. there are layers of different colors of material, with very thin metal between them, and the whole handle is fluted. I can't tell how the ferrule is attached. The dagger has been in my family since I was little, more than 60 years; it's possible that it has been in the family a long time. My family is a very old Italian family; on my father's side we trace our ancestry back to 907 C.E. for our present last name, (I have the family archives in my possession, but we are well known historically in Italy), farther if you go back to Roman times, and I have been told that we have Etruscan ancestry as well. It seems to be really nice steel, with an excellent armor-piercing point.

17th January 2005, 07:38 AM	#2
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	I just examined the ferrule closely; it does not look like it has a seam. I'll post more pics tomorrow.

17th January 2005, 10:18 AM	#3
Rich Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: comfortably at home, USA Posts: 432	I think this is a style called a Mediterranian dagger. Likely from southern Europe, French, Spain or Italy. The style was around a long time, ca 1500 - 1900. Hard to guess a date, but a nice looking piece. Rich S

17th January 2005, 10:58 AM	#4
Yannis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Athens Greece Posts: 479	It is mediteranian dagger. Italian, late 18th century, according to "Weapons" (The Diagram Group) encyclopedia, page 33.

17th January 2005, 01:30 PM	#5
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,087	Thank you for posting such a lovely knife. I really like the workmanship of the blade. It appears to be quite well made.

17th January 2005, 02:12 PM	#6
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Beautiful, and correctly identified. I'll add that it is fairly likely though by no means certain to have been locally produced. The sculptural detail on the blade is sometimes used as a thumb-rest.