Tibetan (?) Dagger for ID

Iliad · 19th September 2010, 10:56 AM

Hi all, I have just recently purchased a dagger from a dealer; stated to be Tibetan from the 1800's. Will you experts out there venture an opinion on this attribution?
Many thanks for your patient assistance.
Brian

kronckew · 19th September 2010, 11:47 AM

the octagonal wire wound grip appears bhutanese in influence, tho designs travelled in that area & blur near the borders. could have been made in tibet, but in the 'bhutanese' style. the scabbard fitting is more similar to the one on my tibetan dagger than the dossum, the tibetan one has a ring thru the hole and a leather belt loop on the ring.

bhutanese dossum:

my short one:

rear view

someone else's sword-length one.

tibetan one for comparison, also not mine

tibetan dagger, mine this time

note the two toned horn grip & hairpin laminations in the blade. suspension fitting is a bit hard to see, so here's a blowup in the following post

kronckew · 19th September 2010, 12:28 PM

fitting area enlarged & enhanced

Gavin Nugent · 19th September 2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iliad

Hi all, I have just recently purchased a dagger from a dealer; stated to be Tibetan from the 1800's. Will you experts out there venture an opinion on this attribution?
Many thanks for your patient assistance.
Brian

Hi Brian,

I suspect later, early 20th century. The pommel appears to be plated brass in the image? Not low grade silver as I would expect on an older one. The blade could be older though and there is nice overall wear consistant with age and use.
These were still being made in the 50s in Yunnan for export to western centres and I am sure they are still being made today.
It has some good age though.

Gav

Lew · 19th September 2010, 02:09 PM

I agree with Gav early 20th century. The blade does not seem to exhibit any lamination and the hilt does not seem to be silver but plated silver. Still a nice old example maybe from the 1920-30s?

Lew · 20th September 2010, 05:04 PM

Here are two that were from my collection I still have the big one though. The smaller one was circa 1930-40 the bigger one is 19th century it has a yak horn hilt and straight pin style laminated blade.

Gavin Nugent · 20th September 2010, 06:31 PM

Nice horn handled example Lew.

Brian, your is also an unusual marriage of hilt and scabbard types, something I do not remember seeing anytime from memory.

Gav

carlitobrigante · 20th September 2010, 08:23 PM

lew is that one mounted in silver? looks almost identical style wise to Brians. both very nice knives. I wonder if the dimensions of your silver one are similar to the brass mounted one, perhaps even made by the same smith who offered the same knife in a range of different metal fittings??

I dont know much about tibetan arms, they sure made some pretty knives though...i want one!

thx for sharing brian

Lew · 20th September 2010, 08:56 PM

Brian

The smaller one is some type of white metal alloy?

Iliad · 20th September 2010, 11:42 PM

Many thanks to those who have contributed. I am astonished at how much you guys know and embarrassed at how little I know. The pommel of mine shows some wear, revealing a thin coating of brass colouring, with traces of a lighter metal below.
The pics that you guys have submitted make me envious. My 70th birthday is rapidly approaching and I think that this site has a tradition that when a member turns 70, other members send presents ? As of Tibetan daggers?
Brian

Lew · 20th September 2010, 11:50 PM

I think that this site has a tradition that when a member turns 70, other members send presents ? As of Tibetan daggers?
Brian

Brian

You got that backwards when one reaches 70 he is suppose to start disbanding his collection amongst the many younger members of the forum.

19th September 2010, 10:56 AM	#1
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	Tibetan (?) Dagger for ID Hi all, I have just recently purchased a dagger from a dealer; stated to be Tibetan from the 1800's. Will you experts out there venture an opinion on this attribution? Many thanks for your patient assistance. Brian Attached Images

19th September 2010, 11:47 AM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	the octagonal wire wound grip appears bhutanese in influence, tho designs travelled in that area & blur near the borders. could have been made in tibet, but in the 'bhutanese' style. the scabbard fitting is more similar to the one on my tibetan dagger than the dossum, the tibetan one has a ring thru the hole and a leather belt loop on the ring. bhutanese dossum: my short one: rear view someone else's sword-length one. tibetan one for comparison, also not mine tibetan dagger, mine this time note the two toned horn grip & hairpin laminations in the blade. suspension fitting is a bit hard to see, so here's a blowup in the following post Attached Images Last edited by Lew; 20th September 2010 at 04:42 PM.

19th September 2010, 12:28 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	fitting area enlarged & enhanced Last edited by kronckew; 19th September 2010 at 01:00 PM.

20th September 2010, 05:04 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Here are two that were from my collection I still have the big one though. The smaller one was circa 1930-40 the bigger one is 19th century it has a yak horn hilt and straight pin style laminated blade. Attached Images

20th September 2010, 06:31 PM	#7
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Nice Nice horn handled example Lew. Brian, your is also an unusual marriage of hilt and scabbard types, something I do not remember seeing anytime from memory. Gav

19th September 2010, 02:09 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I agree with Gav early 20th century. The blade does not seem to exhibit any lamination and the hilt does not seem to be silver but plated silver. Still a nice old example maybe from the 1920-30s?

20th September 2010, 08:23 PM	#8
carlitobrigante Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Solihull, UK Posts: 81	lew is that one mounted in silver? looks almost identical style wise to Brians. both very nice knives. I wonder if the dimensions of your silver one are similar to the brass mounted one, perhaps even made by the same smith who offered the same knife in a range of different metal fittings?? I dont know much about tibetan arms, they sure made some pretty knives though...i want one! thx for sharing brian

20th September 2010, 08:56 PM	#9
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Brian The smaller one is some type of white metal alloy?

20th September 2010, 11:42 PM	#10
Iliad Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 187	Many thanks to those who have contributed. I am astonished at how much you guys know and embarrassed at how little I know. The pommel of mine shows some wear, revealing a thin coating of brass colouring, with traces of a lighter metal below. The pics that you guys have submitted make me envious. My 70th birthday is rapidly approaching and I think that this site has a tradition that when a member turns 70, other members send presents ? As of Tibetan daggers? Brian

20th September 2010, 11:50 PM	#11
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I think that this site has a tradition that when a member turns 70, other members send presents ? As of Tibetan daggers? Brian Brian You got that backwards when one reaches 70 he is suppose to start disbanding his collection amongst the many younger members of the forum.