Are simple/plain kard daggers rare?

RobT · 30th June 2022, 02:29 AM

Pitt1999,

Here are two plain Jane examples from my collection. Since they are the only such examples that I have ever seen, I guess that, outside of areas where they are traditionally used, they are uncommon.
The larger of my two knives has a 6.75" (17.145cm) blade that shows signs of forging. The spine is .25" (6.35mm) at the hilt and tapers distally to the point. There is what appears to be an Indian arsenal mark dot engraved on one side of the blade. I would love a translation (but am not holding out much hope). The one piece, eared hilt appears to be made of bone (see blade close-up) and has a two piece steel ferrule. Two brass bands are set into the hilt.
The smaller of the two knives is much fancier. The birdseye damascus blade is 5-3/8" (13.6525cm) long. The spine is about 3/32" (2.38125mm) at the hilt and there is no distal taper to the point. There is a silver koftgari ricasso. The hilt scales appear to be ivory and are held to the tang by 3 brass rivets. The backstrap (actually it is just the tang) is covered with a simple silver pattern. The two piece steel ferrule is covered with a silver koftgari pattern. Given the birdseye damascus and the almost completely intact koftgari, I suspect that the blade is of fairly recent manufacture. From what I have recently seen of Tajikistan kords, I think that the knife could have been made anywhere from India to someplace in the former Soviet Union.

Sincerely,
RobT

30th June 2022, 02:29 AM	#2
RobT Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 550	Two Examples Pitt1999, Here are two plain Jane examples from my collection. Since they are the only such examples that I have ever seen, I guess that, outside of areas where they are traditionally used, they are uncommon. The larger of my two knives has a 6.75" (17.145cm) blade that shows signs of forging. The spine is .25" (6.35mm) at the hilt and tapers distally to the point. There is what appears to be an Indian arsenal mark dot engraved on one side of the blade. I would love a translation (but am not holding out much hope). The one piece, eared hilt appears to be made of bone (see blade close-up) and has a two piece steel ferrule. Two brass bands are set into the hilt. The smaller of the two knives is much fancier. The birdseye damascus blade is 5-3/8" (13.6525cm) long. The spine is about 3/32" (2.38125mm) at the hilt and there is no distal taper to the point. There is a silver koftgari ricasso. The hilt scales appear to be ivory and are held to the tang by 3 brass rivets. The backstrap (actually it is just the tang) is covered with a simple silver pattern. The two piece steel ferrule is covered with a silver koftgari pattern. Given the birdseye damascus and the almost completely intact koftgari, I suspect that the blade is of fairly recent manufacture. From what I have recently seen of Tajikistan kords, I think that the knife could have been made anywhere from India to someplace in the former Soviet Union. Sincerely, RobT Attached Images