Big, small, short, or long, which one of your Daggers is your favorite?

[Legendary_Jarl]

Probably after the Gerber this Kris dagger by Linder is my second favorite that I'd have a hard time letting go. It is definitely my most beautiful dagger. I need to rank my daggers lol.

 

[scdub]

assume the trench knife is a reproduction?

No I don’t believe so - particularly after reading post #48.

 

[killgar]

Any ban on knives in Japan is silly because every household has kitchen knives. But then, any ban on knives in any country is silly when you take that into account.
Japan is a "need lawful purpose to carry" country, meaning I can carry anything from a SAK to a 10 inch Bowie or Khukri on my belt if I am Hunting,Fishing.Camping or Hiking/Trekking. But carrying the smallest knife at night in town would be cause for major trouble if caught.
In truth though, small knives are carried here by some, just that no one wears them clip out in their pocket.

That Amazon Japan dagger you linked is nothing more than a dagger with one edge unsharpened. And in the reviews one buyer complains that it took him 2 days
to grind and sharpen it...lol.

I collected knives, including many daggers when I lived in the U.S.

I find it particularly difficult to understand a nation taking such a harsh stance against blades when blades have been such an integral part of that nations history and culture.

I would think that Japan would celebrate blades, and that carrying one, even a small one would be considered a way of honoring their proud history and culture. But I guess lawmakers all over the world share common traits- stupidity, and the overbearing need to try and protect people from themselves.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

I find it particularly difficult to understand a nation taking such a harsh stance against blades when blades have been such an integral part of that nations history and culture.

I would think that Japan would celebrate blades, and that carrying one, even a small one would be considered a way of honoring their proud history and culture. But I guess lawmakers all over the world share common traits- stupidity, and the overbearing need to try and protect people from themselves.

I think it is a combination of hand-washing and exerting control over people. "Rules for thee but not for me". A lot of that going around. How many officials kept their daggers or kept daggers they confiscated I wonder?

 

[KenHash]

I find it particularly difficult to understand a nation taking such a harsh stance against blades when blades have been such an integral part of that nations history and culture.

I would think that Japan would celebrate blades, and that carrying one, even a small one would be considered a way of honoring their proud history and culture. But I guess lawmakers all over the world share common traits- stupidity, and the overbearing need to try and protect people from themselves.

You are certainly correct that blades have been a large part of Japanese culture for close to a thousand years. There are two events that drasically changed that. The first was the 1876 Haitorei (Sword Abolishment Edict) that made it illegal for Samurai to wear swords in public. This law came into effect following a Civil war which put the Emperor back in power and opened the door to modernization. The second was the US Occupation following WWII from 1945-1952 during which time all weapons, both firearms and swords were confiscated. A similar policy took place in Germany as well. The post WWII fear of civil wars in the defeated countries fanned by the USSR backed communsts was the driving force begind the ultra-strict weapons control. In 1956 Japan established the Gun & Sword Law which put strict restrictions on posession and carrying. When it comes to weapons laws, In the US, the right of the individual is prioritized, whereas in Japan the safety of the public is prioritized.
Which is, as you say, the government acting to protect the people from themselves.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

You are certainly correct that blades have been a large part of Japanese culture for close to a thousand years. There are two events that drasically changed that. The first was the 1876 Haitorei (Sword Abolishment Edict) that made it illegal for Samurai to wear swords in public. This law came into effect following a Civil war which put the Emperor back in power and opened the door to modernization. The second was the US Occupation following WWII from 1945-1952 during which time all weapons, both firearms and swords were confiscated. A similar policy took place in Germany as well. The post WWII fear of civil wars in the defeated countries fanned by the USSR backed communsts was the driving force begind the ultra-strict weapons control. In 1956 Japan established the Gun & Sword Law which put strict restrictions on posession and carrying. When it comes to weapons laws, In the US, the right of the individual is prioritized, whereas in Japan the safety of the public is prioritized.
Which is, as you say, the government acting to protect the people from themselves.

OR the government acting to protect itself and its interests from the people. As it happened in my country of origin: Mexico. It has the most strict gun laws I have heard of to where you can only buy guns at one army store in the capital and you cannot own any firearm used by the army(now the interpretation is any army in the world). It was so strict that when the war on drugs started in 2006 the police was using .22 pistols to fight against AK47's and AR15's and only the army was entitled to something better. Eventually I think they allowed the police to use AR15 carbines. You also cannot own any spear, saber or bayonet and it is all because in the time period when the law was enacted those weapons were still viable in combat and the government didn't want the people to have anything viable to overthrow it after the Mexican revolution.

Of course, Mexico is a failed state and enforcement is a failure as well so criminals get whatever tf they want from the black market and harm innocent people with better weapons than even the army is able to acquire. The state will do nothing to protect the people and in fact, if you are a law abidding citizen the state will come at you with full force if you happen to use a legally acquired weapon to defend yourself from the scumbag criminals. Absolute garbage "government". There is also the issue of ignorant and corrupt officials interpreting the law by their own criteria(or benefit). e.g. I was once told I couldn't bring back from the US a CS Recon Tanto knife which was absolute bullcrap. Totally legal to own and to import.

The situation in my country gave me a good appreciation for the 2nd amendment. And verily: compare how many dictatorships Mexico had in its history(including a communist style single party rule for 70 years) vs how many the US had? Mexico: a bunch. US: 0

 

[madcap_magician]

Newest dagger!

 

[Triton]

Newest dagger!

Nice! What is it?

 

[KenHash]

Newest dagger!

That is a beautiful knife. Wish the first photo was closer so I could read the ricasso mark.
Anyway, I would have called this knife a "fighting knife" or "fighter" as it is essentally a non-dagger knife capable of many tasks but with a (presumably) sharpened swedge. To me, a "dagger" has a clear single purpose design and a symetrical grind. This is just my own view, I could be wrong and others may have different ones.

Of course in a legal definition sense, that would be a dagger as it as a sharpened edge on both sides. I sold off my Randall 1-7 for that reason prior to moving to a "no dagger" jurisdiction.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

That is a beautiful knife. Wish the first photo was closer so I could read the ricasso mark.
Anyway, I would have called this knife a "fighting knife" or "fighter" as it is essentally a non-dagger knife capable of many tasks but with a (presumably) sharpened swedge. To me, a "dagger" has a clear single purpose design and a symetrical grind. This is just my own view, I could be wrong and others may have different ones.

Of course in a legal definition sense, that would be a dagger as it as a sharpened edge on both sides. I sold off my Randall 1-7 for that reason prior to moving to a "no dagger" jurisdiction.

Like you I'd consider that a fighter. Then again, think of the arab jambiya. Not necessarily symmetrical. Also some medieval "daggers" are not even double edged. I guess what really defines a dagger is the primary function of stabbing.

Hell in California a screwdriver is a dagger in the legal definition sense if they catch you with one "concealed". Any implement capable of readily causing bodily harm is considered a dagger when carried concealed. Recently applied to a folding box cutter too. Stupid.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

This Kizlyar made Kindjal Dagger would likely be me second choice of the Daggers in my collection.

 

[KenHash]

Like you I'd consider that a fighter. Then again, think of the arab jambiya. Not necessarily symmetrical. Also some medieval "daggers" are not even double edged. I guess what really defines a dagger is the primary function of stabbing.

Hell in California a screwdriver is a dagger in the legal definition sense if they catch you with one "concealed". Any implement capable of readily causing bodily harm is considered a dagger when carried concealed. Recently applied to a folding box cutter too. Stupid.

Good point. I often see definitions of daggers indicating " a weapon primarily to stab", in which case I guess someone could stretch that to cover screwdrivers, pens, countless objects. To differentiate, a "knife" is often defined as a cutting and slicing tool, which can also be used as a weapon.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

This is my only dagger.

It’s also the last knife of any kind that I’d ever sell.

My Dad found it on the beach at Fort Point when he was a kid (at least that’s the story) and gave it to me when I was maybe 14.

My wife, although not a superstitious person, won’t touch it.

View attachment 1820009

You know, there's been a good amount of interesting, beautiful, and desirable daggers in this thread... But it's your dagger that I wish I owned one of exactly like it... What a piece of American history ❤❤

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

You know, there's been a good amount of interesting, beautiful, and desirable daggers in this thread... But it's your dagger that I wish I owned one of exactly like it... What a piece of American history ❤❤

If you wanna talk about a piece of American history check these out:

These were made from cut down swords from the civil war! Talk about an elegant blade for combat. At first it would give me eye pain to see that a perfectly fine sword was destroyed that way. But, considering the time period and the need the end result is pretty cool. I think these are even rarer than the trench knife. Perhaps one day I'll get a cheap indian replica of a civil war sword and try to replicate one of these. The ones made from Patton sabers are cool as well.

 

[KenHash]

If you wanna talk about a piece of American history check these out:

These were made from cut down swords from the civil war! Talk about an elegant blade for combat. At first it would give me eye pain to see that a perfectly fine sword was destroyed that way. But, considering the time period and the need the end result is pretty cool. I think these are even rarer than the trench knife. Perhaps one day I'll get a cheap indian replica of a civil war sword and try to replicate one of these. The ones made from Patton sabers are cool as well.

Pardon my ignorance on this topic, but were these knives made from swords that broke or otherwise had problems? Or were the swords cut down because the shorter "knife length" was more beneficial in some way?

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Pardon my ignorance on this topic, but were these knives made from swords that broke or otherwise had problems? Or were the swords cut down because the shorter "knife length" was more beneficial in some way?

I personally would guess that it was a combination of both.
I mean, if you had a broken sword blade, but there was still enough length to make a knife out of it, then it would be a great way of making it into a usable tool.

But, I imagine if someone had a sword, and maybe had little to no use for it, then making a knife out of it would make perfect sense.

I imagine that it would have been done because of either of these reasons.

 

[KenHash]

Ah, that's a shame (I saw the reason in the follow-up posts). Did you look at the knife offered? If so, would you consider it a good deal? I might go for it after all, perhaps.

Admittedly a rare find, #232...but that blemish on the guard....Don't know if I'd pay over EUR 600 though. Blemishes can take a good chunk out of the value for collector pieces.

 

[KenHash]

I personally would guess that it was a combination of both.
I mean, if you had a broken sword blade, but there was still enough length to make a knife out of it, then it would be a great way of making it into a usable tool.

But, I imagine if someone had a sword, and maybe had little to no use for it, then making a knife out of it would make perfect sense.

I imagine that it would have been done because of either of these reasons.

I have seen Wakizashi that were made from Katanas that broke, so converting damaged swords to shorter weapons makes perfect sense
anywhere in any era.
I suppose there could be valid reasons for converting a perfectly fine sword, but admitedly it's hard for me to appreciate.

 

[TC]

Admittedly a rare find, #232...but that blemish on the guard....Don't know if I'd pay over EUR 600 though. Blemishes can take a good chunk out of the value for collector pieces.

Thanks for your opinion. Yeah, think I'll pass on it - don't have that "must have" feeling here.

 

[VorpelSword]

I do not now own any daggers.

However, I have made the choice before and have a preference.

In the early 2k years, our son was a Marine about to deploy to Iraq. I bought and gave him several knives. The criteria I used in selecting what to get for him was not based on cost or look. One knife was a Cheris Reeve Green Beret, and another was a Randall #16 Special Fighter.

Among a few other knives I gave him were two daggers. One was an Ek dagger; 6 1/2 inch double edge, Chrome/vanadium etc.
The other one was a Camillus Cuda Maxx, a licensed derivative of the Darrel Ralph Madd Maxx; 5 1/2 inch D2folding stiletto with a titanium frame lock handle.

I was looking for serious EDC tools for a warfighter about to go in harm's way, not wall hangers.

He chose not to bring either of them. Instead, he packed both the Reeve and Randall knives and a CRKT M-21.