Help identifying possible North African dagger

[BBJW]

Tourist piece. Live and learn.--bbjw

[RobT]

Hi rakdagger,

Sorry but what Turkoman.kahn and BBJW have told you is correct. Your dagger is a modern made version of the traditional Indian chilanum. Modern reproductions of traditional Indian weapons abound. The blade of your dagger is made with a bird's eye damascus pattern which I have been told by a smith is the simplest mechanical damascus pattern to make. Whenever you see bird's eye damascus on a blade, unless there is strong evidence of age, a red flag should go up.

Sincerely,
RobT

[rakdagger]

Thanks all - much appreciated. At least I know what to look out for in the future. Hehehe. Oh well.

[werecow]

For comparison purposes you can find a few pictures of antique ones here.

[David R]

As said by others, modern and made as a decorator, or possibly to deceive.