Unknown dagger

kronckew · 13th November 2018, 12:48 PM

Looks to me like a typical soviet era eastern block/Russian style military parade dirk or dagger. I do not think it's a repurposed French bayonet. The AO mark may tell where it came from.

alex8765 · 13th November 2018, 12:55 PM

I agree, it looks similar to Imperial Russian naval dirk, but it's not. Russian or Soviet daggers don't have riveted handles or brass scabbards.
In the last couple of years I’ve seen two more identical daggers with the same markings “AO”. So, looks like this could be officially issued dagger.

fernando · 13th November 2018, 07:18 PM

What are the handle grips made of; bone ... plastic ?

alex8765 · 14th November 2018, 08:11 AM

The handle grips made of bone.

Madnumforce · 14th November 2018, 11:35 AM

Yes, it looks like a naval dirk of some sort, but that construction is unusual.

What I can tell you is it's not a Lebel bayonet blade. The geometry is all wrong. The "flutes" on the Rosalie are much narrower and deeper, with side at square angle to each other and a radius at the bottom. The taper doesn't match either.

14th November 2018, 08:11 AM	#4
alex8765 Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: NYC Posts: 63	The handle grips made of bone. Last edited by alex8765; 14th November 2018 at 10:54 AM.

13th November 2018, 12:48 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,238	Looks to me like a typical soviet era eastern block/Russian style military parade dirk or dagger. I do not think it's a repurposed French bayonet. The AO mark may tell where it came from.

13th November 2018, 12:55 PM	#2
alex8765 Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: NYC Posts: 63	I agree, it looks similar to Imperial Russian naval dirk, but it's not. Russian or Soviet daggers don't have riveted handles or brass scabbards. In the last couple of years I’ve seen two more identical daggers with the same markings “AO”. So, looks like this could be officially issued dagger.

13th November 2018, 07:18 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	What are the handle grips made of; bone ... plastic ?

14th November 2018, 11:35 AM	#5
Madnumforce Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 28	Yes, it looks like a naval dirk of some sort, but that construction is unusual. What I can tell you is it's not a Lebel bayonet blade. The geometry is all wrong. The "flutes" on the Rosalie are much narrower and deeper, with side at square angle to each other and a radius at the bottom. The taper doesn't match either.