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#1 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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Greetings folks,
I got this copper dagger several months ago. The blade is all copper and so are the mounts. The initials "FDM" are engraved onto one side of the blade. I have no idea where this is from and I've not seen its like before. Is it American? Filipino (1900)? European? ![]() Any assistance is welcome. |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Russia, Moscow
Posts: 368
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It is often difficult to distinguish between daggers from French Indochina and the Philippines.
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,069
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Going by what I have seen here on this site, it's Philippine and specifically for use against supernatural threats.
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#4 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,287
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I'd be quite interested in knowing more about the occult uses of these non-ferrous daggers. This one is brass.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Russia, Moscow
Posts: 368
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There is a widespread belief among many peoples of Southeast Asia that objects that do not have destructive power among people have it in the world of spirits. For example, daggers with a specially blunted blade.
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#6 |
Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
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Hi Jose,
I also think your knife is from the Philippines--Central or Northern Luzon. Rick's is a bit harder to place given the hilt style, but could also be from the Philippines. Apart from a non-specific "spiritual purpose," I don't have anything to contribute. Sorry. Ian |
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#7 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,731
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Hello Jose,
Another vote for Philippines and Luzon. ![]() The one from Rick is from Batangas I guess, see this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=copper Regards, Detlef Last edited by Sajen; 11th September 2021 at 11:10 AM. Reason: add pictures |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: musorian territory
Posts: 415
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those nonferrous bladed knives are a cultural thing among malayian cultures though out south east asia.. its for "fighting spirits" ive seen people in the 21st century carrying small brass, copper or sliver kris around rolled up in their sarongs to protect from bad magic . ect
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#9 |
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 425
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I've noticed that people in North America wear articles of clothing impregnated with copper wire, and copper bracelets, to rid themselves of pain demons in their joints, or to ward off same.
Apparently the groups involved are more primitive than the bulk of the population, as they can only obtain these articles by watching late-night broadcast TV. |
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#10 | |
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Russia, Moscow
Posts: 368
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#11 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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Thank you folks. I'll land on Luzon, but musty admit that I haven't seen a copper knife like this from the Philippines, or any PI knife like this.
However, I agree with the copper being used to dispel evil spirits. I got this hoping that it might still be Filipino, but knowing the risk it might not. Now to figure out the meaning of "FDM".......... |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Feb 2014
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The blade profile is similar to the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife developed in WWII, though the hilt is different.
If I had to choose between American, European and Philippine origin, I'd strongly favor Philippines. Africa is a known source for copper weapons, but they seldom if ever emulate Western military blades. |
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#13 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,731
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Remember the great copper and brass dagger collection from Robert. ![]() Regards, Detlef |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
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And here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=copper you can find a lot of information about non ferric daggers from the Philippines.
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#15 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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Thank you Detlef for the links. What threw me for a loop was the hilt: 1. how it was scored, 2. how the cross guard is made in the form of an "X" (though one could argue that it fits Philippine thinking), 3. how the mounts were made, 4. how badly beaten up the blade was. None of the examples I have seen (even on our site) matched this. However, I am aware that the Philippines, places in Indonesia, and Malaysia used copper blades for chasing away evil spirits. So again I took the chance that this is indeed a Filipino blade.
Almost nothing is documented on these except what Robert was fortunate to acquire. |
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#16 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: musorian territory
Posts: 415
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#17 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 7,200
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In this thread Bangkaya states that copper and brass were used to fight aswang spirits.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...309#post266309 More of the mystery solved. ![]() |
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