Dagger? Letter-opener? Theater knife? ID please?

B

B Brum

Joined
Aug 4, 2020
Messages
3
This knife has been discussed around the table for years. No one knows anything about it other than a family member who served in the war possessed it until it was willed to us. He traveled the globe extensively so it could be from anywhere.

I am looking for more information about it. I am unsure the age, country and even the purpose.

My research has led me to believe it is possibly Asian.
The pommel is either ivory or bone, but I am unsure how to tell.
The sheath is wooden on the inside and overlaid with brass maybe?
The blade is double-edged and steel.
My guess is that this is a dagger? But we have used it as a letter-opener for years.
I do not believe this to be a replica because of the hand-carved wooden sheath on the inside. I say this because when you look down the sheath, it is imperfect inside.
It appears hand-made to me and steel has tarnished at least 100 years IMO.

Am I right on anything of this? Thank you for helping a senior citizen trying to find interesting projects during this virus!

https://ibb.co/SJYzz09

https://ibb.co/yypSh81

https://ibb.co/3NQgKF0

https://ibb.co/SdJnH8w

https://ibb.co/8PxfMM8

https://ibb.co/vjw1v48

B Brum
 
Last edited:
I had no clue but after google what not2sharp not2sharp said, I think we gots a winner.

As for bone, ivory, age, etc. I have no clue.

Looks like a very interesting blade tho!
 
Thank you, n2s. I found a few very close online that also throw around a few more labels for it but the same look. The debate online seems to be the exact timeframe for this issue with the pistol hilt and some dialogue about bone or ivory for the handle. Now that I know it is from the Philippines, we know that this must have been purchased when family member served in the Pacific Theater in WWII as an army paratrooper. He used it as a letter opener for years before it was handed over to us. It's nice to know where it came from. We just visited there in January!
 
That's an awesome piece of history. If it could talk, I'm sure it would have stories for days. Welcome to the site and thanks for sharing!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top