A 17th century dagger?

blue lander · 22nd February 2015, 12:57 AM

Thanks! I'm not getting my hopes up yet, I'll be surprised if the sale was legit. Besides the super low price, it was the seller's first auction. He also only wanted 12 euros to ship to the us which is the same amount he wanted for western Europe. Just doesn't add up. But the price was low enough to make it worth the risk.

M ELEY · 22nd February 2015, 03:32 AM

With roughly a 12" blade, it could easily be a parrying dagger, especially with the longer quillons. Strictly speaking, the Spanish main gauche had hilts that covered the hand with a semi-basket guard. Not sure if the wooden grip is a replacement or ?. The grip does remind one of some of the Holbein styles of daggers of the same period. Loosely speaking, of course. I'm trying to remember where I've seen the grip style before. Not a Rondel, but perhaps a pattern along the same lines? Dagger experts out there?

M ELEY · 22nd February 2015, 03:48 AM

OPPS! Stand corrected about gauches. Some were indeed 'open', with either a ring guard or just the extended quillons.

Hey Blue, if this piece turns out to be legit, you have got yourself a sweet find! If Victorian repro, its still an excellent deal for the price. If a modern repro, its what you paid and appears quality made. If not shipped at all, ouch!

Take some more closeup pics of the wood hilt when (if!) it arrives. My poor eyes start to see things, like legit aging/patina (??) and possibly worm holes (?). Wormy ash wood was an extremely popular wood used for dagger hilts, pike hafts, etc, back in the day...

Sajen · 22nd February 2015, 09:26 AM

Good luck for receiving it!

blue lander · 22nd February 2015, 11:54 PM

I guess there's nothing to do now but wait. Here's two more pictures from the auction I forgot to include.

Will M · 23rd February 2015, 03:50 AM

I hope you have good luck getting it.

One thing you can do is ask to have a photo sent to you with something particular beside the item like that days newspaper, it proves the seller owns it.

A few years ago there was a European seller on Ebay who copied other sellers photos from their listing and used these to make his auction for the sword.
He never owned the sword, just started a listing and collected payment.

When you scan auctions enough you remember seeing particular photos.
That seller was soon kicked off but they have a way of creeping back.

blue lander · 23rd February 2015, 01:45 PM

Thanks, that's good advice.

I know it's tacky to say how much you paid for something, but for the point of context, I got this for a "buy it now" price of 30 euros. That's barely enough to be worth stealing.

22nd February 2015, 11:54 PM	#5
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	I guess there's nothing to do now but wait. Here's two more pictures from the auction I forgot to include. Attached Images

22nd February 2015, 12:57 AM	#1
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Thanks! I'm not getting my hopes up yet, I'll be surprised if the sale was legit. Besides the super low price, it was the seller's first auction. He also only wanted 12 euros to ship to the us which is the same amount he wanted for western Europe. Just doesn't add up. But the price was low enough to make it worth the risk.

22nd February 2015, 03:32 AM	#2
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,158	With roughly a 12" blade, it could easily be a parrying dagger, especially with the longer quillons. Strictly speaking, the Spanish main gauche had hilts that covered the hand with a semi-basket guard. Not sure if the wooden grip is a replacement or ?. The grip does remind one of some of the Holbein styles of daggers of the same period. Loosely speaking, of course. I'm trying to remember where I've seen the grip style before. Not a Rondel, but perhaps a pattern along the same lines? Dagger experts out there?

22nd February 2015, 03:48 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,158	OPPS! Stand corrected about gauches. Some were indeed 'open', with either a ring guard or just the extended quillons. Hey Blue, if this piece turns out to be legit, you have got yourself a sweet find! If Victorian repro, its still an excellent deal for the price. If a modern repro, its what you paid and appears quality made. If not shipped at all, ouch! Take some more closeup pics of the wood hilt when (if!) it arrives. My poor eyes start to see things, like legit aging/patina (??) and possibly worm holes (?). Wormy ash wood was an extremely popular wood used for dagger hilts, pike hafts, etc, back in the day...

22nd February 2015, 09:26 AM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,207	Good luck for receiving it!

23rd February 2015, 03:50 AM	#6
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 395	I hope you have good luck getting it. One thing you can do is ask to have a photo sent to you with something particular beside the item like that days newspaper, it proves the seller owns it. A few years ago there was a European seller on Ebay who copied other sellers photos from their listing and used these to make his auction for the sword. He never owned the sword, just started a listing and collected payment. When you scan auctions enough you remember seeing particular photos. That seller was soon kicked off but they have a way of creeping back.

23rd February 2015, 01:45 PM	#7
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Thanks, that's good advice. I know it's tacky to say how much you paid for something, but for the point of context, I got this for a "buy it now" price of 30 euros. That's barely enough to be worth stealing.