Chinese dagger for comment

Henk · 17th July 2007, 10:19 PM

It is probably nothing and the characters will say "made in China" but I picked this one up with some other real nice things.
Just wanted to be sure because the chinese stuff isn't my field.

A translation of the characters on the scabbard as well on the knife would be nice. But I'm sure it will be made in China

Lew · 17th July 2007, 10:23 PM

Henk

It looks like a Chinese repro of a Tibet dagger.

Lew

Battara · 18th July 2007, 02:21 AM

Yeah I am afraid I agree - never seen Tibetan pieces have chinese characters on the blades and the style of work does not appear Tibetan to me.

Henk · 18th July 2007, 10:34 AM

Lew, Battara,

Thanks for your answer. A repro of a tibetan dagger. Don't know why your answer doesn't surprise me. I don't know why, but with chinese stuff i always get an itchy feeling.

What does it make you think it should represent a tibetan dagger? Is it the horned dragon on the scabbard or the complete style of this thing?

Bill M · 18th July 2007, 10:47 AM

The overall design looks Tibetan.

This is an everyday herdsman's kinfe.

Battara · 18th July 2007, 06:31 PM

I'm with Bill, the overall style is Tibetan/Bhutanese, althought the style of the mounts are not and the design features are a little off to be authentic for me.

josh stout · 18th July 2007, 06:37 PM

The blade seems a bit rough and not well finished, and the fullers are also shallow and not well made. I have a dagger made around 1990 for everyday use from the Tibetan/Chinese border region and it is quite different. The scabbard is plain brass with no designs, while the blade is thick and solid and well made with deeply cut fullers. The tang runs through the solid metal handle and is peened at the end. The point is also much less hurried looking. Even in the early 90s when there were no Westerners traveling in the area and not even that many Han Chinese, there were many knives in the market that looked like this (according to hearsay). They were not exactly tourist pieces, but perhaps more for status and show than use. Now of course eBay is flooded with such stuff.

Can anyone comment on the pommel style of this blade? It looks like a copy of Bhutanese styles to me.
Josh

17th July 2007, 10:19 PM	#1
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Chinese dagger for comment It is probably nothing and the characters will say "made in China" but I picked this one up with some other real nice things. Just wanted to be sure because the chinese stuff isn't my field. A translation of the characters on the scabbard as well on the knife would be nice. But I'm sure it will be made in China Attached Images

18th July 2007, 10:47 AM	#5
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	The overall design looks Tibetan. This is an everyday herdsman's kinfe. Attached Images

17th July 2007, 10:23 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Henk It looks like a Chinese repro of a Tibet dagger. Lew

18th July 2007, 02:21 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Yeah I am afraid I agree - never seen Tibetan pieces have chinese characters on the blades and the style of work does not appear Tibetan to me.

18th July 2007, 10:34 AM	#4
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Lew, Battara, Thanks for your answer. A repro of a tibetan dagger. Don't know why your answer doesn't surprise me. I don't know why, but with chinese stuff i always get an itchy feeling. What does it make you think it should represent a tibetan dagger? Is it the horned dragon on the scabbard or the complete style of this thing?

18th July 2007, 06:31 PM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	I'm with Bill, the overall style is Tibetan/Bhutanese, althought the style of the mounts are not and the design features are a little off to be authentic for me.

18th July 2007, 06:37 PM	#7
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	The blade seems a bit rough and not well finished, and the fullers are also shallow and not well made. I have a dagger made around 1990 for everyday use from the Tibetan/Chinese border region and it is quite different. The scabbard is plain brass with no designs, while the blade is thick and solid and well made with deeply cut fullers. The tang runs through the solid metal handle and is peened at the end. The point is also much less hurried looking. Even in the early 90s when there were no Westerners traveling in the area and not even that many Han Chinese, there were many knives in the market that looked like this (according to hearsay). They were not exactly tourist pieces, but perhaps more for status and show than use. Now of course eBay is flooded with such stuff. Can anyone comment on the pommel style of this blade? It looks like a copy of Bhutanese styles to me. Josh