Expert opinions requested......

[Devin Vaughan]

1) Hello and thank you for time and opinions!!
2) I am a life time blade enthusiast and on a recent trip through the Mediterranean I found a piece I had to have. I found it in a dusty glass display case. Seemingly forgotten in the upstairs of a little shop in Old Town, on the Greek island of Rhodes.
3) My own limited knowledge tells me this: I bought a small (8 inch ) dagger/stiletto? The bone handle, real silver detailing at the base of the blade and weight of the blade all seem to indicate that it is not a cheap reproduction. If it turns out to be less than 100 years old I'll be surprised. I'd also be surprised if it's more than 200 years old. Pleasantly surprised that is!
4) Historically Rhodes has been: Greek, Roman, Persian, etc. It's pretty much right in the middle of many cultural and stylistic influences. As a result... I admit I'm at a loss as to it's origin.
5) As for it's intended use... It is well constructed and quite stout. so it seems it was made to be used. The blade shape, in particular the tip really interest me. You can't see from the pictures but that long tapered tip is hammered out to be thicker than it is wide in the end... it's ice-pick solid. The edges of the blade appear to have never been sharpened... a fine smooth edge but not enough to cut the user. The notched handle, which I love.. is functional in that the notch fits one finger around it and gives you a very solid grip..... In short this thing has no utilitarian use at all, unless your an assassin. It's safe to conceal, rock solid grip and a blade that will thrust right through cloths and between ribs. At least that’s my take on it.
6) This post has gone on much longer than I intended... So let me close by saying that if you read all the way through this, look at the pictures and Think I'm wrong on any point... or you have any additional ideas or input as to this items; Age, Origin or Function. I would welcome them.... And again thank you for your time. Devin


http://www.texsriverways.com/temp/DSCN0844.JPG
http://www.texsriverways.com/temp/DSCN0845.JPG
http://www.texsriverways.com/temp/DSCN0847.JPG

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Devin,

I am not the expert that you are looking for, but if you would like more responses you should log off and log on with your full name. That is one of the rules of the Forum that we all follow. If you did that I am sure that you would get more info. Thanks and Welcome!

-Jeremiah (GFS)

[Devin Vaughan]

The above post that started this topic was my first post on this forum..... and already I'm off on the wrong foot. A far more experienced member has brought to my attention that I neglected to follow the local customs and log off and on using my full name. I should have paid more attention. It's as though I'm speaking with an accent and now everyone knows I'm a tourist and not a local.

Kyle Devin Vaughan

[Webmaster]

What he meant was you need to go to the Profile link at the top of this page and edit your username to be your real first and last name. Middle name not required, thank you.

[Will Adamson]

The blade shape kinda reminds me of a Georgian dagger that I used to have. It was much bigger than what you have there.

It seems pretty obvious that that thing was intended for concealed carry for use against a person. I can't imagine buttering my toast with it.

[Brandon Paul Heslop]

1) Hello and thank you for time and opinions!!
2) I am a life time blade enthusiast and on a recent trip through the Mediterranean I found a piece I had to have. I found it in a dusty glass display case. Seemingly forgotten in the upstairs of a little shop in Old Town, on the Greek island of Rhodes.
3) My own limited knowledge tells me this: I bought a small (8 inch ) dagger/stiletto? The bone handle, real silver detailing at the base of the blade and weight of the blade all seem to indicate that it is not a cheap reproduction. If it turns out to be less than 100 years old I'll be surprised. I'd also be surprised if it's more than 200 years old. Pleasantly surprised that is!
4) Historically Rhodes has been: Greek, Roman, Persian, etc. It's pretty much right in the middle of many cultural and stylistic influences. As a result... I admit I'm at a loss as to it's origin.
5) As for it's intended use... It is well constructed and quite stout. so it seems it was made to be used. The blade shape, in particular the tip really interest me. You can't see from the pictures but that long tapered tip is hammered out to be thicker than it is wide in the end... it's ice-pick solid. The edges of the blade appear to have never been sharpened... a fine smooth edge but not enough to cut the user. The notched handle, which I love.. is functional in that the notch fits one finger around it and gives you a very solid grip..... In short this thing has no utilitarian use at all, unless your an assassin. It's safe to conceal, rock solid grip and a blade that will thrust right through cloths and between ribs. At least that’s my take on it.
6) This post has gone on much longer than I intended... So let me close by saying that if you read all the way through this, look at the pictures and Think I'm wrong on any point... or you have any additional ideas or input as to this items; Age, Origin or Function. I would welcome them.... And again thank you for your time. Devin


http://www.texsriverways.com/temp/DSCN0844.JPG
http://www.texsriverways.com/temp/DSCN0845.JPG
http://www.texsriverways.com/temp/DSCN0847.JPG

Just a guess, but it looks "Russian," possibly from the Caucasus region? I've seen similiar examples with longer blades. the Greeks had some similar types, so no surprise you found it in Greece.

http://www.collectiblefirearms.com/Daggers.html

http://www.reliks.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=1950

As to age, I cannot possibly comment. That sort of "blade form" was popular for quite a long time. Perhaps you could have it carbon dated? Expensive, but it would no longer be a mystery.

Hope this helps.

-B.

[Craig Peters]

The lack of rust and patination means that it is almost certainly less than 200 years old, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was less than 100 years either. Even up until the midpoint of the 20th century there were daggers and knives being produced with an "older style" of appearance. The grip on it is certainly not consistent with what you'd expect from a medieval weapon, so that can further help you date it.

It might be an idea to post your question on the MyArmoury.com forums. The ARMA really specializes more in reconstructing historic European martial arts than it does in things like identifying edged weaponry that's clearly not from the late medieval/early modern period.