Iraqi dagger

Emanuel · 22nd June 2010, 12:54 PM

Hello folks,

A gentleman on another forum posted this dagger for comment and I thought it would be good to have some discussion about it here. He acquired it in 1991 in Connecticut, described as a Persian short sword.

His description of the dagger:

Quote:

From tip to pommel it measures 25.5 inches with a blade length of 20 inches. The blade is double edged with an elegant curve to it. Both sides of the blade have identical geometric paterns engraved near the hilt. The hilt is made primarily of some type of animal horn(very much like the buffalo horn used on some kukris). The hilt also has two small ivory accents and some metal inlay(brass and an unidentified white metal that does not tarnish or rust). The scabard is very light, made of an amber colored wood, and clad in beaten cooper with intricate geometric paterns from end to end.

My thinking is that it is from Iraq, similar to the "marsh Arab" daggers. Some time ago someone posted a postcard from 1963 showing a very similar dagger from Iraq.
If this is the case, then it's the first such dagger of such length I've seen.

Thoughts on this piece?

Emanuel

Iain · 22nd June 2010, 01:04 PM

Hope this doesn't go against the rules, not an auction but a sale from another site (and not mine).

Seems to exhibit a similar form, no attribution given for this one.

ALEX · 22nd June 2010, 04:32 PM

These long daggers are not from Iraq, and certainly not Persian:-).
Not sure, but could be East African or Moroccan (?). Mid/late 20th Century, ceremonial or tourist-oriented.
Also, the daggers on the postcard are ancient Mesopotamian, very very long before Iraq:-)

22nd June 2010, 01:04 PM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,680	Hope this doesn't go against the rules, not an auction but a sale from another site (and not mine). Seems to exhibit a similar form, no attribution given for this one. Last edited by Rick; 22nd June 2010 at 03:35 PM.

22nd June 2010, 04:32 PM	#3
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 935	These long daggers are not from Iraq, and certainly not Persian:-). Not sure, but could be East African or Moroccan (?). Mid/late 20th Century, ceremonial or tourist-oriented. Also, the daggers on the postcard are ancient Mesopotamian, very very long before Iraq:-) Last edited by ALEX; 22nd June 2010 at 04:43 PM.