Indian Dagger, double blade.
 

I won this piece. It has the right look about it? Any infromation? I will post better pictures on its arrival. Small, total length 13" blade 8" Rather good fun? or a bad hair day?

Looks like it could be a real nice one to me. What's the handle made out of?

I think its clearly South Indian, at least the handle is:

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=416

Never seen one with double blades, although they appear on bichwa fairly regularly:

http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=808

Can't wait to see better pics!

--Radleigh

Thanks Radleigh, I do hope you are right. I know little of these things so it was bit of a gamble. The pictures are not good, I will post better. I am unsure about the loop on the top of the scabbard but one can get concerned about nothing at times.

Hmmm, interesting. Of course a lot of Indian daggers use later scabbards, so that may not be cause for great concern. There is also the slightly less savory possibility that the blade is actually from an older bichwa, and the handle is a later replacement. How late would have to wait until you get it. There are of course far better experts than I who might be able to tell based on these pictures what's what. Good luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

--Radleigh

interesting one, i saw that and was going to bid on it but it went a bit higher than i wanted to spend. hope you'll post a few better pictures when it arrives.

Arrived today. Nice handle, The scabbard appears to be original. Why they have used a different brass at the top is anybodies guess. The tip of the blades are lightly swelled. I cleaned off a nasty scab of rust. I quite like it.

Nice! Congrats.

Very nice Tim,
wish I had bid more :( Congrats.. :)

Regards David

What an ugly piece, Tim :eek:
... and is not even African :shrug:
I'll be attentive at Swap Forum, in case you decide to get rid of it :cool:

I think the different brass ans style of ornamentaion is precisely due to what CourseEight mentioned: a possible re-mount of a bichwa double-blade in a handle which not belongs originally to it, IMHO. I think it was a very good purchase.
My best regards

Gonzalo

The brass around the scabbard may be a replacement but the handle was made for the blade. It is actually quite small and made of the same metal, the colour difference at the engraved forte is from rubbing against the wood insides of the scabbard. I have hopes that it is 19th century.

Hi Tim,
Nice piece, at times really difficult to tell from a sellers photographs just what's going to arrive in the post. It looks well put together and the casting appears well executed all pointing, I hope, to the 19th Century piece you're wishing for.
Regards,
Norman.

Tim

You did good ;) :D .


Lew