A bone hilted dagger for id!

[Jim McDougall]

My guess would be bovine as contrary to ethnographic symbolism and holdings as far as I know there were no such preferences or restrictions on such materials in the west, it was simply a substitute for ivory. In effect, the bone material is not as important as the other symbolism. However it does seem that with the fancy swords of regalia, there were high ranking ones such as commander which may have used ivory.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

My guess would be bovine as contrary to ethnographic symbolism and holdings as far as I know there were no such preferences or restrictions on such materials in the west, it was simply a substitute for ivory. In effect, the bone material is not as important as the other symbolism. However it does seem that with the fancy swords of regalia, there were high ranking ones such as commander which may have used ivory.

Hi Jim,

That it is bone is clearly visible, my question was which sort of bone it could be? I ask because the seller suggested that it could be human bone!

Regards,
Detlef

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Jim,

That it is bone is clearly visible, my question was which sort of bone it could be? I ask because the seller suggested that it could be human bone!

Regards,
Detlef

Yikes! While there have been cases of human remains used in such a way, most notably in Tibet, where there are unusual perspectives toward such things, but I had not been aware of any such practices here. I suppose only forensic examination might reveal that.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Yikes! While there have been cases of human remains used in such a way, most notably in Tibet, where there are unusual perspectives toward such things, but I had not been aware of any such practices here. I suppose only forensic examination might reveal that.

Hi Jim,

I know that collectors of New Guinea bone daggers are able to distinguish between Cassowary bone daggers and human bone daggers, I think that the colour of the bone is the key. Also the bulge of the bone plays a rule.

Regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

I personally think that it's very unlikely that the hilt is from human bone, the dagger is 31,4 cm long, so the handle will be a little bit under 10 cm long, which human bone would fit this size?
I think that the dagger could be a "coup de grace" dagger from a rich/important person from the mid. to end of the 19th century and the bone is maybe from a deer leg. I asked which bone it could be because the seller brought human bone in play but I personally think that this is most unlikely. I also don't think that it is a Freemason dagger, but this is a personal guess since I just don't know enough about this category of daggers.

But it would be interesting to read what others think about this dagger!