Caucasian (?) Stiletto

ham · 31st July 2007, 05:25 PM

Ariel,

Nothing unusual I can see in this dagger-- blade may be a little earlier but the grip is rather typical Toledo work of the mid-late 19th century. It isn't nielloed, but gilt and enamelled. Motifs are certainly not Caucasian, perhaps the Moorish influence there is leading you to such a conclusion.

Ham

ariel · 31st July 2007, 08:19 PM

Thanks to both of you.
I learned something new!
Ariel

Marc · 31st July 2007, 10:15 PM

It's a curious composite, for sure...

The hilt is, as has already been said, a Toledo "damascene" work. Not sure about its age, though, as it's still being done today with the same style and motifs. For a change, it's a craft that enjoys a pretty good health...
The blade is what gives me the creeps... it's made from an old (late 16th or 17th c.) rapier blade, cut down (it was probably -hopefully- already broken) and heavily ground off to its actual profile, a work that, for what can be deduced from the state of the edges' bevels, has every chance to be very recent.
The sheath looks like a fairly recent work, also, and before really believing that the "pommel" is anything else than plastic I should have to look at it much more closely...

It's definitely a put-together, using old spare pieces and adding what was missing. About when this assembling took place, ist's anyone's guess.I suppose it COULD be 19th c., but if I had to bet any money, it would be for a rather later date...

31st July 2007, 05:25 PM	#1
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	Ariel, Nothing unusual I can see in this dagger-- blade may be a little earlier but the grip is rather typical Toledo work of the mid-late 19th century. It isn't nielloed, but gilt and enamelled. Motifs are certainly not Caucasian, perhaps the Moorish influence there is leading you to such a conclusion. Ham

31st July 2007, 08:19 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Thanks to both of you. I learned something new! Ariel

31st July 2007, 10:15 PM	#3
Marc Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Madrid / Barcelona Posts: 256	It's a curious composite, for sure... The hilt is, as has already been said, a Toledo "damascene" work. Not sure about its age, though, as it's still being done today with the same style and motifs. For a change, it's a craft that enjoys a pretty good health... The blade is what gives me the creeps... it's made from an old (late 16th or 17th c.) rapier blade, cut down (it was probably -hopefully- already broken) and heavily ground off to its actual profile, a work that, for what can be deduced from the state of the edges' bevels, has every chance to be very recent. The sheath looks like a fairly recent work, also, and before really believing that the "pommel" is anything else than plastic I should have to look at it much more closely... It's definitely a put-together, using old spare pieces and adding what was missing. About when this assembling took place, ist's anyone's guess.I suppose it COULD be 19th c., but if I had to bet any money, it would be for a rather later date...