Help with dagger identification

aspalathos · 3rd September 2025, 03:03 PM

Strange dagger , The blade has traces of gilding on both sides. Some of the coral and turquoise are missing.

Bob A · 3rd September 2025, 03:31 PM

Ottoman for sure, but that's all I've got.

gp · 3rd September 2025, 06:35 PM

I have seen some of these "better" or higher quality daggers and little swords,
which have been made for officers and the better classes (aristocrats and rich merchants) in the Ottoman times, being (re)made in the last couple of decades in Turkey for both the tourist market and also those interested having historical replicas instead of the real ones ( as the latter do have a serious price ticket to it....)
Also the "craftmanship"on making items or replicas older are very high level: I have lived almost 2 years in Egypt and have seen remarkable things concerning ancient items being sold and told about the tricks involved...!

The replicas are not that bad for what they are and the quality visually is very well but as for the blades and hilts I can not say;

one needs to see them and hold it in ones hand to inspect and judge...they differ from maker to maker.

But for sure there are good blacksmiths and craftsmen, no doubt about that!

Also a good indication to determine what you have is the provenance for these higher quality cold weapons...

It looks nice at first sight but ....something I have some questions about is the thickness and quality of the golden decoration...
I can only speculate, which I shall refrain from, and is something which needs to be examinate very carefully...

But this doesn't say anything about your item ofcourse!

gp · 3rd September 2025, 06:42 PM

double, sorry

3rd September 2025, 03:03 PM	#1
aspalathos Member Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 106	Help with dagger identification Strange dagger , The blade has traces of gilding on both sides. Some of the coral and turquoise are missing. Attached Images

3rd September 2025, 06:35 PM	#3
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 876	I have seen some of these "better" or higher quality daggers and little swords, which have been made for officers and the better classes (aristocrats and rich merchants) in the Ottoman times, being (re)made in the last couple of decades in Turkey for both the tourist market and also those interested having historical replicas instead of the real ones ( as the latter do have a serious price ticket to it....) Also the "craftmanship"on making items or replicas older are very high level: I have lived almost 2 years in Egypt and have seen remarkable things concerning ancient items being sold and told about the tricks involved...! The replicas are not that bad for what they are and the quality visually is very well but as for the blades and hilts I can not say; one needs to see them and hold it in ones hand to inspect and judge...they differ from maker to maker. But for sure there are good blacksmiths and craftsmen, no doubt about that! Also a good indication to determine what you have is the provenance for these higher quality cold weapons... It looks nice at first sight but ....something I have some questions about is the thickness and quality of the golden decoration... I can only speculate, which I shall refrain from, and is something which needs to be examinate very carefully... But this doesn't say anything about your item ofcourse! Attached Images

3rd September 2025, 03:31 PM	#2
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 443	Ottoman for sure, but that's all I've got.

3rd September 2025, 06:42 PM	#4
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 876	double, sorry