Please help to identify this dagger

[Jens Nordlunde]

Hi Tatyana,
Interesting dagger, but why do you think you started at the wrong forum in the first place?
I can't help you at the moment, but will try to have a look in my books, to see if they can come up with an answer.
Jens

[DhaDha]

Nepali and nice, I think. I've seen kukris with the same style nails in the handle. The fullers also remind me of a Tin Chirra (Tinchira) kukri blade. I can dig up photos of both if you like...

What is the wrap around the handle made out of? Leather?

[inveterate]

Afghani ?

[Tatyana Dianova]

Hi all and thank you for the feedback.
Jens, I have erroneously put this thread on the Keris Forum. I was simply looking through its entries and started the new thread there – thank you David for moving the thread :-) My books gave me no answer; I hope that you, Jens, will be luckier :-)
The scabbard looks absolutely Nepali, so I can easily agree with DhaDha and his Nepali attribution, but similar blade and handle photos of Nepali pieces will be much appreciated. Are there any guesses concerning dagger age? The handle is made of one piece of rosewood and is not wrapped in any way. The cross pattern is simply cut in this wood.
Inveterate, I believe I’ve seen once a late 19th century Afghani short sword (similar to military issue) with similar cross guard, but since I have no pictures, I can be wrong…

[inveterate]

Tatyana, I have a pic or two somewhere of similar blade styles purporting to be Afghan pieces...another thing that leads me to my Afghan guess is the Nepali type scabbard these were certainly made in Afghanistan for Afghan made Kukri...of course just hunch's. Cheers Rod

[Tatyana Dianova]

Hi Rod,
I have never heard about Afghani Kukris… It would be very nice if you will post some examples of them here, as well as the mentioned Afghani pieces. I often rely on the general feeling too when attributing pieces, but knowledge is better

[DhaDha]

Inveterate, I think your hunches are pretty good. I also see the Afghani styles at work. Well, now that you mention it

When I first looked at this one it reminded me of this:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=nepali+bowie

Attached is a pic of a Kukri with similar fullers.

Could be a combo of different cultures...

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Tatyana Dianova

Hi Rod,
I have never heard about Afghani Kukris… It would be very nice if you will post some examples of them here, as well as the mentioned Afghani pieces. I often rely on the general feeling too when attributing pieces, but knowledge is better

I must say I have never really been aware of Afghan kukris either, but such examples I would imagine would be esoteric enough for knowledge of them to be relegated to those who study and specialize in kukris. I am wondering if these would be related to the 1880's-turn of the century, when the Afghan government began to adopt many British influences, especially in military fashion. In fact, now that I think of it, those distinct Afghan military swords with European style hilts of the 1880's that were used into the 20th century, also had this deep and dramatic fullering.
I suppose that would present some support for the Afghan attribution as well as the other features noted in the thread.
The Afghan army was not only wearing British 'Albert' helmets, but some wearing kilts as well! It does not seem unlikely that the kukri of the famed Gurkha units would not be of some influence also.

I still cannot get the Transcaucasian thoughts out of my mind though!
So far the only such examples I have found have had some type of either splayed or horned pommel hilts, with which the splayed form does not entirely discount the 'fishtail' effect.

All best regards,
Jim