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Old 31st January 2024, 11:46 AM   #1
werecow
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Default Unidentified dirk or hanger?

I recently bought this pair from a Dutch vendor (these are the seller's pics) who had no additional information (got it through an inheritance). I know what the beladah / parang nabur is (although comments are always welcome!), but have not been able to place the short sword on the right. It's 69 cm total and very nimble, but still feels more like a sword than a dagger. It reminds me of some of the British naval dirks but also of some infantry hangers. Grip appears to be horn, fittings brass, no marks anywhere that I've seen.
The scabbard does not fit (and is missing the tip) and may be from a Dutch police hanger.
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Old 9th July 2024, 11:53 AM   #2
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I just spotted a very similar one on an ebay clone; from the description of that sword this appears to be a Dutch or Belgian municipal constable short sword from around 1830.
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Old 10th July 2024, 01:11 AM   #3
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I'm not surprised. It seems like just after the first quarter of the 19th century, with industrialization and factories, there was a glut of munitions-grade swords made for civil branches of government which hadn't been readily available previously. I'm particularly thinking of all the briquet patterns we seen, but also constable swords, forrestry swords, sappers, etc. Still, this isn't one that pops up often as I'd never seen this pattern myself.
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Old 10th July 2024, 02:08 AM   #4
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I'm wondering to what extent this model was regulated. Unfortunately the other two examples I've come across are both still on sale so I can't share the pictures, but while the similarities in the hilt are unmistakable (exact same pommel and guard and same proportions), they show some variation in both the blade and grip. One has a curved fullered saber blade, the other has a straight blade but no fuller, and both have an ebony grip with small ribs instead of the smooth horn that mine has.

Last edited by werecow; 10th July 2024 at 02:20 AM.
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