Dagger ID & Verification Requested
 

Hi All,

I don’t recognize this type of dagger which is in very good condition. Both of these factors make me suspicious. On the other hand, save for some blade grind irregularities, the entire ensemble appears to be very well done and the blade is quite lethal.
The blade measures 9.5” (24.13 cm) long, 1.75” (4.445 cm) across the flat at the hilt, and .25” (6.35 mm) thick at the ricasso.
If the hilt and the sheath fittings aren’t silver, somebody did a very good job of making them look like it. Somehow, the work on the hilt and sheath reminds me of what is seen on kothimari khukris.

Sincerely,
RobT

The bird's head reminds me of some Indian swords. e.g.

Kothimora khukuries are usually decorated in silver or gold. If the knife were intended for well-to-do patrons it would be dressed and finished accordingly. They would know what silver is, what gold is and what good workmanship looks like. This knife lacks that and was likely intended for the casual buyer who lacks experience and can be persuaded that this represents a quality heirloom. Btw, ignore the decorations and focus on the blade. It’s the most important component and the first thing that needs to be mastered on an upscale knife.

N2s

Second Rate?
 

Not2sharp,

Well, you’re saying that the metalwork of the hilt and on the sheath of the item in question is second rate? All I can say in response is that you must be acquainted with kothimora of a far higher type than I have ever seen. This includes virtually every kothimora item that I have seen on this forum (and the ones on the now defunct khukri forum). Perhaps you could show us the kothimora items from your collection that markedly exceed the quality of the one I have presented?

Sincerely,
RobT

Hi,

I believe this is a good Indian dagger from around 1900–1920, likely from the colonial period. You might also try searching for “Indian Bowie knives” for comparison.

Best,

Some Testing
 

Hi All,

Just a little update. Since there was a slight amount of rust on the blade, I gave it a day long soak in Evaporust. A soak of that duration will reveal mechanical damascus but I don’t know for sure if it will show crucible damascus. The blade shows no mechanical damascus pattern. Sometime in the future, after thoroughly cleaning the blade, I will try a 3% nital solution which will bring out a crucible damascus pattern if present. Testing the sheath furniture with silver testing solution showed that the metal is a very low grade silver. Thus far, Patterson25’s hypothesis appears possible.

Sincerely,
RobT

Hi,
I found some stuff for you, described as
Lovely Quality 19th C. Anglo-Indian Hunting Dagger Knife for English Officer of Indian Colonial Regiments. sold in 2021
Blade looks similar to yours. with a central fuller.

Patterson25,

That's a nice Anglo-Indian knife. The hilt is definitely Indian of a style found in the 1890s through to about 1920, and made for sale of items to those who travel. The sheath is also Indian. The blade and guard, however, look European—perhaps German.

More Commonly Seen Example
 

Patterson25,

As Ian said, a nice Anglo-Indian knife. Most of the ones of this type that I have seen have curved blades like the example shown below. I don’t know if they were made for those who travel per se. Every one I have seen is well made. I think they were made for upper echelon members of the British Raj. I am hoping that the dagger I presented to start this thread is another such example, just made at the very end of the British Raj.

Sincerely,
RobT

Maybe it's the lighting, but the blade looks very crude.
Almost uncompleted.

Hi,
I forgot to mention your pommel with parrot head and chased metalwork, it should be from Northern India or Kutch...

Close but Worringly Different
 

Patterson25,

The parrot’s head hilt you show is one of the two things that worry me. Your example is a recognizable type (see the thread recently started by Alex [When it comes to Indian arms - Indian Zoomorphic Daggers). My hilt doesn’t look enough like what you show (or what is shown in Alex’s thread) for me to really be comfortable. One very notable difference is the way the hilt sits in the sheath. Although the hilt and sheath of my dagger fit together snugly and very well, the seating process is different than what is seen on the classic examples. I intend to test for crucible damascus on the outside chance (slim to none) that the blade may be older than the rest of the ensemble, but I have a feeling that the earliest date for my dagger would be just prior to Indian independence (1947) and, given the very good condition of the entire piece), it may be considerably younger than that (which is the second thing that worries me).

Sincerely,
RobT

Rob,

See this thread https://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23518

Ian.