Philippine Knife, Or Letter Opener ??

Robert · 11th January 2011, 11:13 PM

The Knife/dagger arrived yesterday and it is built very sturdy. The weight of this is impressive and helps very much in stabbing. After a thorough cleaning I just had to try it out on a beef roast my wife was getting ready to cook (she needed pockets to place the garlic in anyway).

I had no problem in getting the blade to penetrate the roast clear to the hilt. I am now doubting that this was ever intended to be a paper weight/letter opener but you never know.

Robert

Battara · 12th January 2011, 02:41 AM

Well brass is one of the harder "soft" metals.

As far as age is concerned, I am a little in the dark, but if these are truly Katipunero daggers for concealment, I would then say 1890s. Unfortunately this is speculation on my part.

VANDOO · 12th January 2011, 06:19 AM

I HAVE A DAGGER ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST ONE IN THIS POST AND HAVE SEEN A FEW MORE LIKE IT. MINE HAS AN ALUMINUM HANDLE AND STEEL BLADE AND IS SHARP. I HAVE ALWAYS ASSUMED THIS TO BE THE PHILIPPINE VERSION OF THE CHEAP HUNTING KNIVES AND DAGGERS THAT CAME OUT AFTER WW2. MANY HAD ALUMINUM HANDLES SOME SHAPED LIKE A FIST, OTHERS A KNIGHTS HEAD AND A FEW WITH THE FEMALE FIGURE. I ORDERED ONE FROM THE BACK OF A COMIC BOOK WHEN I WAS ABOUT EIGHT IT WAS FROM GERMANY AND HAD A IMITATION STAG HANDLE AND A STAG ETCHED ON THE BLADE. ITS GAURD WAS ALUMINUM AND CURVED AROUND THE HAND FROM THE POMMEL AND GAURD LIKE THE ABOVE PHILIPPINE KNIFE.
PERHAPS THIS FORM EVOLVED FROM A PURELY PHILIPPINE DESIGN THAT HAD BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME OR IS SOMETHING THAT CAME ALONG POST WW2 AND SOLD AS A HUNTING KNIFE?
DOES YOUR BRASS EXAMPLE HAVE A PATINA AND SHOW AGE AND WEAR?

Robert · 12th January 2011, 03:27 PM

Hello Vandoo, The original brass knife in this post is defiantly WWII or later and is an exact copy of knives that were made of steel with either wood, horn or aluminum hilts. Like I said earlier unfortunately the knife had been polished up for auction so there is no patina left on it.

Robert

celtan · 20th January 2011, 09:23 AM

A friend of mine has one, with an aluminum handle. It's dated, with the year 1945 and Philippines inscribed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Coleman

Hello Vandoo, The original brass knife in this post is defiantly WWII or later and is an exact copy of knives that were made of steel with either wood, horn or aluminum hilts. Like I said earlier unfortunately the knife had been polished up for auction so there is no patina left on it.

Robert

11th January 2011, 11:13 PM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	The Knife/dagger arrived yesterday and it is built very sturdy. The weight of this is impressive and helps very much in stabbing. After a thorough cleaning I just had to try it out on a beef roast my wife was getting ready to cook (she needed pockets to place the garlic in anyway). I had no problem in getting the blade to penetrate the roast clear to the hilt. I am now doubting that this was ever intended to be a paper weight/letter opener but you never know. Robert

12th January 2011, 02:41 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Well brass is one of the harder "soft" metals. As far as age is concerned, I am a little in the dark, but if these are truly Katipunero daggers for concealment, I would then say 1890s. Unfortunately this is speculation on my part.

12th January 2011, 06:19 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I HAVE A DAGGER ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST ONE IN THIS POST AND HAVE SEEN A FEW MORE LIKE IT. MINE HAS AN ALUMINUM HANDLE AND STEEL BLADE AND IS SHARP. I HAVE ALWAYS ASSUMED THIS TO BE THE PHILIPPINE VERSION OF THE CHEAP HUNTING KNIVES AND DAGGERS THAT CAME OUT AFTER WW2. MANY HAD ALUMINUM HANDLES SOME SHAPED LIKE A FIST, OTHERS A KNIGHTS HEAD AND A FEW WITH THE FEMALE FIGURE. I ORDERED ONE FROM THE BACK OF A COMIC BOOK WHEN I WAS ABOUT EIGHT IT WAS FROM GERMANY AND HAD A IMITATION STAG HANDLE AND A STAG ETCHED ON THE BLADE. ITS GAURD WAS ALUMINUM AND CURVED AROUND THE HAND FROM THE POMMEL AND GAURD LIKE THE ABOVE PHILIPPINE KNIFE. PERHAPS THIS FORM EVOLVED FROM A PURELY PHILIPPINE DESIGN THAT HAD BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME OR IS SOMETHING THAT CAME ALONG POST WW2 AND SOLD AS A HUNTING KNIFE? DOES YOUR BRASS EXAMPLE HAVE A PATINA AND SHOW AGE AND WEAR?

12th January 2011, 03:27 PM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Vandoo, The original brass knife in this post is defiantly WWII or later and is an exact copy of knives that were made of steel with either wood, horn or aluminum hilts. Like I said earlier unfortunately the knife had been polished up for auction so there is no patina left on it. Robert