Dagger from a newbie

vantique · 7th February 2011, 02:27 PM

Hi, All!

I'm the new kid in town and sure could use your expertise on this one.
Any ideas on replacing the handle, guys?
By the way, the "K" has a thinner diagonal mark across it, which could
be a mistake on the part of the inscriber???

fernando · 7th February 2011, 03:17 PM

Hi vantique, welcome to the forum.
Nice piece; looks old ... late 18th century?
Grip could be either wood or bone ... even ivory? Not the skin wrapping type, i would say.
Perhaps trying to find its origin, before deciding the ideal material for the grip?
I wonder if it is a Western piece.
Let's see what other members say about it.
... Also you should try and post a close up picture of the marking. That K is hardly visible; even harder to figure out what is across it.

Atlantia · 7th February 2011, 06:51 PM

Hi Vantique.
Welcome to the forum.
Could the dagger be Philippine?

Battara · 7th February 2011, 06:55 PM

I wonder if it is "K" for katipunan, a Filipino secret movement and society that formed to free the Philippines from Spanish around the late 19c. What also leads me to this supposition is that the "K" is inside a triangle, another symbol of the society. This might be early. It would have a Spanish influenced style in form. Shame the handle material is missing, probably made of horn.

Nice early piece. Thank you for sharing and welcome to our little forum!

Robert · 7th February 2011, 07:20 PM

Hello Vantique, and welcome to the forum. I would definitly agree that this is a Philippine dagger and as Jose pointed out possibly Katipunan. Seeing as the markings are on the blade and not the scabbard I would also agree that this is an early piece. As the markings would only be seen when the dagger was unsheathed it could possibly have been used as a means of identification. By the shape of the hilt fittings I would suggest it could have had a grip of this shape and buffalo horn construction.

Robert

VANDOO · 8th February 2011, 01:52 AM

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

IT WOULD APPEAR SOMEONE WAS PLANNING TO REPLACE THE OLD HANDLE BUT DIDN'T GET AROUND TO IT. THE GOOD THING IS ALL THE PARTS ARE THERE AND WITH A LITTLE MEASURING YOU CAN FIT THE HANDLE TO THE TWO METAL PARTS JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL. WATER BUFFALOW HORN WOULD BE NICE AND A SUITABLE PIECE OF IT SHOULD BE FOUND EASY ENOUGH. GOOD LUCK

vantique · 8th February 2011, 04:50 AM

Hi, Guys, it's great to be here. Thank you for the warm welcome and swift replies. Silly me for asking about the handle replacement before its origins.

. I'm really dying for an I.D.!!! Here is a reverse color close-up of the "K". Any more information would be greaatt!!!! Thanks again

7th February 2011, 02:27 PM	#1
vantique Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 34	Dagger from a newbie Hi, All! I'm the new kid in town and sure could use your expertise on this one. Any ideas on replacing the handle, guys? By the way, the "K" has a thinner diagonal mark across it, which could be a mistake on the part of the inscriber??? Attached Images

7th February 2011, 07:20 PM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Vantique, and welcome to the forum. I would definitly agree that this is a Philippine dagger and as Jose pointed out possibly Katipunan. Seeing as the markings are on the blade and not the scabbard I would also agree that this is an early piece. As the markings would only be seen when the dagger was unsheathed it could possibly have been used as a means of identification. By the shape of the hilt fittings I would suggest it could have had a grip of this shape and buffalo horn construction. Robert Attached Images

8th February 2011, 04:50 AM	#7
vantique Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 34	Hi, Guys, it's great to be here. Thank you for the warm welcome and swift replies. Silly me for asking about the handle replacement before its origins. . I'm really dying for an I.D.!!! Here is a reverse color close-up of the "K". Any more information would be greaatt!!!! Thanks again Attached Images

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7th February 2011, 03:17 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi vantique, welcome to the forum. Nice piece; looks old ... late 18th century? Grip could be either wood or bone ... even ivory? Not the skin wrapping type, i would say. Perhaps trying to find its origin, before deciding the ideal material for the grip? I wonder if it is a Western piece. Let's see what other members say about it. ... Also you should try and post a close up picture of the marking. That K is hardly visible; even harder to figure out what is across it.

7th February 2011, 06:51 PM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi Vantique. Welcome to the forum. Could the dagger be Philippine?

7th February 2011, 06:55 PM	#4
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,272	I wonder if it is "K" for katipunan, a Filipino secret movement and society that formed to free the Philippines from Spanish around the late 19c. What also leads me to this supposition is that the "K" is inside a triangle, another symbol of the society. This might be early. It would have a Spanish influenced style in form. Shame the handle material is missing, probably made of horn. Nice early piece. Thank you for sharing and welcome to our little forum!

8th February 2011, 01:52 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	WELCOME TO THE FORUM IT WOULD APPEAR SOMEONE WAS PLANNING TO REPLACE THE OLD HANDLE BUT DIDN'T GET AROUND TO IT. THE GOOD THING IS ALL THE PARTS ARE THERE AND WITH A LITTLE MEASURING YOU CAN FIT THE HANDLE TO THE TWO METAL PARTS JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL. WATER BUFFALOW HORN WOULD BE NICE AND A SUITABLE PIECE OF IT SHOULD BE FOUND EASY ENOUGH. GOOD LUCK