19th century gothic dagger?

Ron Anderson · 28th August 2010, 02:05 PM

Another link

http://militaryantiques.files.wordpr...8/rimg0003.jpg

Ron Anderson · 28th August 2010, 02:07 PM

And a rear view

http://militaryantiques.files.wordpr...8/rimg0004.jpg

Gavin Nugent · 28th August 2010, 03:23 PM

Hi Ron,

Your first thoughts are my first thoughts. I think the blade and perhaps the design to the scabbard may tell more of the period than the rest of the design as the blade is one thing that seemsed to stay common to a time period. Though saying that someone here may well immeadiately identify the the 'eagle','Sphinx','Griffin' hilt?

Gav

David · 28th August 2010, 05:02 PM

Ron, you were probably having problems because these images were way too large to upload to our site. The ppi was at 72, but the file dimensions were like 24x35 inches. I resized them and gave them a tighter crop.

So why do you think this is 19th century?

Battara · 28th August 2010, 06:32 PM

Yeah European alright. Yes possibly French. May need to go to the European section.

fernando · 28th August 2010, 07:42 PM

Hi Ron,
Try and upload direct pictures and not web links.
We will move this thread to the European Armoury section, if you don't mind.

Ron Anderson · 29th August 2010, 01:40 AM

Hello everyone

Thanks for your comments. I'm in Australia so there is a time lag between us, which is why I'm only responding now.

David, thanks for fixing those pictures. I have a new camera and will need to work out how to created smaller files.

I think it's 19th century, partly because a knowledgeable friend pointed me in that direction. There is a definite age to the piece. It looks like a fantasy knife, but in fact is not your garden variety fantasy knife at all.

The odd thing is, I've seen this type of knife twice within the last year. The first time it was one of a large number of very high quality edged weapons on auction. I dismissed it as a fantasy knife (as did the auction house 'experts') but my friend identified it as something kind of special.

The very same knife appeared at an antique market where the dealer was selling it for next to nothing, believing it to be a modern fantasy knife. Foolishly I didn't buy it immediately and when I returned to buy it after drawing money it had been sold.

This particular knife I found at an arms fair. It was sold to me by a custom knife maker who found it in a junk shop. It is almost identical to the first knife I'd seen but in better condition.

The fact that I've seen two here in Sydney within the last year led me to believe it might be not all that uncommon. However, I suspect it is actually very uncommon and the fact that I've encountered it twice in a short time frame is just a bizarre coincidence.

I think it's French because it just has that look. I think there've been similar figural pieces displayed in past threads here.

The blade looks distinctly 19th century to me. I've seen similar blades on other ornate 19th century daggers. But there are no markings at all.

Anyway, it is really an interesting piece. I'm delighted to have found it.

I haven't ruled out the possibility that it belonged to some form of fraternal or secret society.

Would be very keen to here from anybody else who might have some insight into it.

Regards
Ron

Dom · 29th August 2010, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battara

Yeah European alright. Yes possibly French.

good shoot

might be a track ...

see under the label; "Dague romantique Viollet le Duc"

à +

Dom

M ELEY · 29th August 2010, 09:03 AM

Hmmm...well, I wouldn't say fantasy knife, but perhaps something more utilitarian, like a letter opener? I don't mean this insultingly, as there are collectors of such. The figure could be a griffon, but with that face, I was thinking 'gargoyle', which is also a popular French decoration. I wouldn't think it was too old,perhaps early 20th?? A well-decorated piece. My two cents...

28th August 2010, 03:23 PM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Hi Ron Hi Ron, Your first thoughts are my first thoughts. I think the blade and perhaps the design to the scabbard may tell more of the period than the rest of the design as the blade is one thing that seemsed to stay common to a time period. Though saying that someone here may well immeadiately identify the the 'eagle','Sphinx','Griffin' hilt? Gav

28th August 2010, 05:02 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Ron, you were probably having problems because these images were way too large to upload to our site. The ppi was at 72, but the file dimensions were like 24x35 inches. I resized them and gave them a tighter crop. So why do you think this is 19th century? Attached Images

28th August 2010, 02:05 PM	#1
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Another link http://militaryantiques.files.wordpr...8/rimg0003.jpg

28th August 2010, 02:07 PM	#2
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	And a rear view http://militaryantiques.files.wordpr...8/rimg0004.jpg

28th August 2010, 06:32 PM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Yeah European alright. Yes possibly French. May need to go to the European section.

28th August 2010, 07:42 PM	#6
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Hi Ron, Try and upload direct pictures and not web links. We will move this thread to the European Armoury section, if you don't mind.

29th August 2010, 01:40 AM	#7
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Hello everyone Thanks for your comments. I'm in Australia so there is a time lag between us, which is why I'm only responding now. David, thanks for fixing those pictures. I have a new camera and will need to work out how to created smaller files. I think it's 19th century, partly because a knowledgeable friend pointed me in that direction. There is a definite age to the piece. It looks like a fantasy knife, but in fact is not your garden variety fantasy knife at all. The odd thing is, I've seen this type of knife twice within the last year. The first time it was one of a large number of very high quality edged weapons on auction. I dismissed it as a fantasy knife (as did the auction house 'experts') but my friend identified it as something kind of special. The very same knife appeared at an antique market where the dealer was selling it for next to nothing, believing it to be a modern fantasy knife. Foolishly I didn't buy it immediately and when I returned to buy it after drawing money it had been sold. This particular knife I found at an arms fair. It was sold to me by a custom knife maker who found it in a junk shop. It is almost identical to the first knife I'd seen but in better condition. The fact that I've seen two here in Sydney within the last year led me to believe it might be not all that uncommon. However, I suspect it is actually very uncommon and the fact that I've encountered it twice in a short time frame is just a bizarre coincidence. I think it's French because it just has that look. I think there've been similar figural pieces displayed in past threads here. The blade looks distinctly 19th century to me. I've seen similar blades on other ornate 19th century daggers. But there are no markings at all. Anyway, it is really an interesting piece. I'm delighted to have found it. I haven't ruled out the possibility that it belonged to some form of fraternal or secret society. Would be very keen to here from anybody else who might have some insight into it. Regards Ron

29th August 2010, 09:03 AM	#9
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,158	Hmmm...well, I wouldn't say fantasy knife, but perhaps something more utilitarian, like a letter opener? I don't mean this insultingly, as there are collectors of such. The figure could be a griffon, but with that face, I was thinking 'gargoyle', which is also a popular French decoration. I wouldn't think it was too old,perhaps early 20th?? A well-decorated piece. My two cents...