Philippine Knife, Or Letter Opener ??

Robert · 7th January 2011, 04:24 AM

This is a little odd to me. I've seen these WWII era knives with steel blades and wood, horn and aluminum hilts before but this is the first all brass version that I've seen. At a little over 11 inches it seems a little large for a letter opener but I cannot think of anything else that it might be. It could be just another tourist piece but I would think that if it was they would be more common like the others. It only cost me a little over 8 dollars, so no matter what it turns out to be I'm not out much.

I just wish that they had not polished it. These are the pictures from the auction. Any help (or just comments) with this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Robert

Battara · 7th January 2011, 05:09 AM

Yeah, it's a tourist or at least market piece.

Robert · 7th January 2011, 06:53 AM

Hi Jose,
Yeah, I thought that it was. I'm starting to wonder if maybe this was designed to be a paper weight? I just thought it was kind of interesting.

Robert

tom hyle · 7th January 2011, 05:12 PM

Granted that swords made for professional soldiers and noblemen have traditionally been custom made, nevertheless, the others have always been market pieces, no?
Certainly not designed as a paperweight, because the design is exactly that of daggers of the wwII and immediately post-wwII era that are usually made in steel. May be intended as a letter opener/paper weight, but certainly is not designed as one; is copied directly from steel daggers.
It is worth noting that there is a tradition of brass daggers in the region, which are locally believed (and a number of medical personel who post to this forum have testified some validity to such belief) to induce poisoned/nonhealing wounds.

Robert · 8th January 2011, 02:05 AM

Accidental double post. Sorry.

Robert · 8th January 2011, 02:07 AM

Tom, Thank you for your thoughts on this knife/daggers potential use. I have other Philippine daggers, some with brass and some with copper blades but as I stated earlier "this is the first all brass version that I've seen". After it arrives and I can see how well or how poorly made the blade is it will be easier to decide if it was just made for show (letter opener/paper weight) or if it could actually be used for the purpose that you described. Again my thanks.

Robert

Battara · 9th January 2011, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hyle

It is worth noting that there is a tradition of brass daggers in the region, which are locally believed (and a number of medical personel who post to this forum have testified some validity to such belief) to induce poisoned/nonhealing wounds.

Well Tom, this would certainly explain the occasional brass blade I have seen, even one from the Philippine Revolutionary days.

Robert · 9th January 2011, 04:56 AM

Here are the others that I have. The two outside daggers have copper blades while the two center ones have brass blades. I would like to add that the dagger on the fare right with the dark blade I had checked and the blade itself is actually coated in arsenic.

A truly nasty little piece of work.

7th January 2011, 04:24 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Philippine Knife, Or Letter Opener ?? This is a little odd to me. I've seen these WWII era knives with steel blades and wood, horn and aluminum hilts before but this is the first all brass version that I've seen. At a little over 11 inches it seems a little large for a letter opener but I cannot think of anything else that it might be. It could be just another tourist piece but I would think that if it was they would be more common like the others. It only cost me a little over 8 dollars, so no matter what it turns out to be I'm not out much. I just wish that they had not polished it. These are the pictures from the auction. Any help (or just comments) with this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Robert Attached Images

9th January 2011, 04:56 AM	#8
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Here are the others that I have. The two outside daggers have copper blades while the two center ones have brass blades. I would like to add that the dagger on the fare right with the dark blade I had checked and the blade itself is actually coated in arsenic. A truly nasty little piece of work. Attached Images

7th January 2011, 05:09 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Yeah, it's a tourist or at least market piece.

7th January 2011, 06:53 AM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hi Jose, Yeah, I thought that it was. I'm starting to wonder if maybe this was designed to be a paper weight? I just thought it was kind of interesting. Robert

7th January 2011, 05:12 PM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	Granted that swords made for professional soldiers and noblemen have traditionally been custom made, nevertheless, the others have always been market pieces, no? Certainly not designed as a paperweight, because the design is exactly that of daggers of the wwII and immediately post-wwII era that are usually made in steel. May be intended as a letter opener/paper weight, but certainly is not designed as one; is copied directly from steel daggers. It is worth noting that there is a tradition of brass daggers in the region, which are locally believed (and a number of medical personel who post to this forum have testified some validity to such belief) to induce poisoned/nonhealing wounds.

8th January 2011, 02:05 AM	#5
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Accidental double post. Sorry.

8th January 2011, 02:07 AM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Tom, Thank you for your thoughts on this knife/daggers potential use. I have other Philippine daggers, some with brass and some with copper blades but as I stated earlier "this is the first all brass version that I've seen". After it arrives and I can see how well or how poorly made the blade is it will be easier to decide if it was just made for show (letter opener/paper weight) or if it could actually be used for the purpose that you described. Again my thanks. Robert