Philippine 1st Republic/Katipunan Dagger(mislabeled auction)

Dimasalang · 17th September 2010, 02:31 PM

Wanted to let this forum know about this auction, but forum rules prohibits posting of active auctions. Sorry guys. Item was sold at a popular auction company that caters primarily to firearms. Im in to WWII firearms as well, so it was a big surprise for me to just stumble across this one on the Rock Island website. The sunface, 3 stars in triangle make it an obvious give away for a 1st Republic/Katipunan dagger.

Sorry to say I didn't win this. They estimated the daggers value of being $2500-4000...so I didn't even try. Wish I could of past this on to another member here(sorry yall) but I just found this auction and didn't catch the deadline, and I been extremely busy taking care of a family emergency. Sad really because this dagger was mislabeled and the item sold for $750. Says it sold "on the floor" and the buyer had to also pay a buyers premium($146), plus taxes and fee...all in all +$1000 out the door. With the estimated price range they gave, I thought that is where they start...I never used Rock Island auction so I didn't even know they start the auctions off at $1. As you can see from the photos, this one is exceptional. The designs are typical, but the ivory handles really sets this dagger apart from all others...rare to see any Filipino(non-Moro) style blade with ivory. I hope to God the buyer knows what he got. It would be extremely sad to know this piece of Philippine history went to a buyer who goes on with the rest of his life thinking it is an early American Masonic dagger from the 1830s.

Very Early Large Masonic American Dagger with Scabbard

Description:The single fuller blade measures 9 1/4" long. Fancy silver hilt with fluted ivory handle. No maker markings. OAL: 13 3/4". Circa 1835 leather sheath with engraved silver throat and tip. The throat is engraved with a masonic emblem: a sun and three stars within a triangle.
Condition: Fine. The blade has some mild spotting and pitting with a few light chips. The ivory handle shows a very even mellow patina and has a couple missing minor chips and some minor handling marks. Scabbard is good with minor flex wear with some flaking.

http://rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/50/lid/1150

Battara · 18th September 2010, 03:29 AM

HOW THE CRAP DID I MISS THIS!?!

What a nice piece. Yeah, this would have belonged to a high ranking general or official. NUTS!

At least you got it posted for future reference and research. Salamat!

migueldiaz · 18th September 2010, 07:26 AM

nice piece. thanks for posting this.

carlos · 18th September 2010, 10:14 PM

Ahhhh!!! my heart is broken now!! very beatiful dagger, I love this type of dagger with katipunan symbols.
Thanks for posted the pictures.
best regards
carlos

Dimasalang · 19th September 2010, 12:29 AM

Sorry guys. I felt I dropped the ball on this one. I had no funds for this to begin with, so I should of passed this along to one of you all. Really kicking myself now! Kind of leaves a bitter taste in my mouth knowing it was sold off as an American piece when it was really something historical and it could of been had by some one from our group and by some one who knows what they have and would truly appreciate it. All we can do now is keep a couple photos for our records.

Battara · 19th September 2010, 01:15 AM

Well, at least we have the records for future research and understanding.........

17th September 2010, 02:31 PM	#1
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	Philippine 1st Republic/Katipunan Dagger(mislabeled auction) Wanted to let this forum know about this auction, but forum rules prohibits posting of active auctions. Sorry guys. Item was sold at a popular auction company that caters primarily to firearms. Im in to WWII firearms as well, so it was a big surprise for me to just stumble across this one on the Rock Island website. The sunface, 3 stars in triangle make it an obvious give away for a 1st Republic/Katipunan dagger. Sorry to say I didn't win this. They estimated the daggers value of being $2500-4000...so I didn't even try. Wish I could of past this on to another member here(sorry yall) but I just found this auction and didn't catch the deadline, and I been extremely busy taking care of a family emergency. Sad really because this dagger was mislabeled and the item sold for $750. Says it sold "on the floor" and the buyer had to also pay a buyers premium($146), plus taxes and fee...all in all +$1000 out the door. With the estimated price range they gave, I thought that is where they start...I never used Rock Island auction so I didn't even know they start the auctions off at $1. As you can see from the photos, this one is exceptional. The designs are typical, but the ivory handles really sets this dagger apart from all others...rare to see any Filipino(non-Moro) style blade with ivory. I hope to God the buyer knows what he got. It would be extremely sad to know this piece of Philippine history went to a buyer who goes on with the rest of his life thinking it is an early American Masonic dagger from the 1830s. Very Early Large Masonic American Dagger with Scabbard Description:The single fuller blade measures 9 1/4" long. Fancy silver hilt with fluted ivory handle. No maker markings. OAL: 13 3/4". Circa 1835 leather sheath with engraved silver throat and tip. The throat is engraved with a masonic emblem: a sun and three stars within a triangle. Condition: Fine. The blade has some mild spotting and pitting with a few light chips. The ivory handle shows a very even mellow patina and has a couple missing minor chips and some minor handling marks. Scabbard is good with minor flex wear with some flaking. http://rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/50/lid/1150 Attached Images

18th September 2010, 03:29 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	HOW THE CRAP DID I MISS THIS!?! What a nice piece. Yeah, this would have belonged to a high ranking general or official. NUTS! At least you got it posted for future reference and research. Salamat!

18th September 2010, 07:26 AM	#3
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	nice piece. thanks for posting this.

18th September 2010, 10:14 PM	#4
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 731	Ahhhh!!! my heart is broken now!! very beatiful dagger, I love this type of dagger with katipunan symbols. Thanks for posted the pictures. best regards carlos

19th September 2010, 12:29 AM	#5
Dimasalang Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 264	Sorry guys. I felt I dropped the ball on this one. I had no funds for this to begin with, so I should of passed this along to one of you all. Really kicking myself now! Kind of leaves a bitter taste in my mouth knowing it was sold off as an American piece when it was really something historical and it could of been had by some one from our group and by some one who knows what they have and would truly appreciate it. All we can do now is keep a couple photos for our records.

19th September 2010, 01:15 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	Well, at least we have the records for future research and understanding.........