First that is a very nice dagger. As to the question of brass vs copper determining age that is a hard call to make. Both metals were available but I have noticed that copper was more commonly found on pieces after 1920-30. I believe that copper mining went into high gear after 1928 in Rhodesia so it was more available and easier to obtain than brass. The dagger below is circa 1930-40 with copper braiding although nicely done it is not as finely done as the older 19th-early 20th century pieces.
Lew
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