Gentlemen......I think that to determine the daggers use ...we should investigate further, the possible associations with Hugo's 'Hunchback of Notre Dame', there are so many links to the story and possible symbolism with the 'true' context of the Authors work that this dagger pocesses.
The hilt form already has already been discussed to a degree. The knife in 'Esmorelda's' waistband is paramount to the story......she is (falsely) accused of atempted murder, by stabbing....later excecuted because of this.
In the story she is shown as opening carrying one....
"Mademoiselle Esmeralda," said the poet, "let us come to terms. I am not a clerk of the court, and I shall not go to law with you for thus carrying a dagger in Paris, in the teeth of the ordinances and prohibitions of M. the Provost. Nevertheless, you are not ignorant of the fact that Noel Lescrivain was condemned, a week ago, to pay ten Parisian sous, for having carried a cutlass."
The scabbard with all its archetectual design.....shows clearly 3 arched doorways........ this is a quote from a synopsis of Chapter 3...
As the narrator remarks: "Time is blind, man stupid." Nevertheless, he emphasizes the beautiful specimens of architecture that remain, especially the three porches with their pointed arches, leading up to a "vast symphony of stone."
The goat on the hilt was originally interpreted as 'satanic'...however..
"...., the symbol of the satanic goat, usually portrayed as a half human, half goat figure, or a goat head. It is often misinterpreted as a symbol of witch-craft in general. It is used by Satanists, but is not used by neo-pagan witches who do not worship the devil.
The origin of the Baphomet is unclear. It may be a corruption of Muhomet (Mohammed). The english witchcraft historian Montague Summers suggested that it was a combination of two greek words, baphe and metis, meaning "absorption of knowledge." Baphomet has also been called the Goat of Mendes, The Black Goat and the Judas Goat.
One more 'snippet'.............the dagger is 'crucifix hilted' , why would a satanist use a 'symbol of Christ'.......Surely a true satanist dagger would not have....or even need a crossguard
