Dagger id question

[Gavin Nugent]

Neil,

I too would suggest Chinese in origin.

DaveA,

Originally Posted by DaveA

The pictures below are of my double knife, a "river pirate" weapon that is a variant of the hudiedao.
The lack of a hand guard distinguishes the ‘river pirate” type from other hudiedao. The hudiedao were widespread by the 1860’s and their design is thought to be derived from maritime boarding knives.

I am curious to know more about the "River Pirate" attribution and were specific supporting information can be found.
I'd be very surprised if piracy had any standard of weapon for such a general attribution when considering guardless varieties known share similar grips to the guarded type suggestion to me the factory making these weapons made many varients including curved varieties with raised yelman and brass tonkou.

Thanks

Gavin