Dagger

[AstralDruid]

Hi folks

My first post here, and would like to show my 'fave' find,, happens to be from just this week..
So, setting is a small stream through a deep gorge, waterfalls, lush vegetation and a feeling of calm, beautiful spot,certain parts of the stream become pools, been used as a bathing area for many hundreds of years, apparently.

So me and my boy (10yrs) climbed a few rock ledges and started with my trusty Ace 250,, and found the odd nail, bits of junk Iron, usual stuff,. Just as he was getting bored and looking for an out.. i got a strong signal in a shallow part of the stream, just before a big drop. Was in All Metal mode (my fave) as i dig everything.. Under a 2kg rock, and about 5cm of sandy grit, i unearthed this..


Was well pleased, took it home and used vinegar solution to steep it an gave it a little rub,




So,, it appeares to carry a Roman blade shape, not out of synch with local history, and recent discoveries in local area have been of Roman settlements..
So what do you guys think ?? could it be a 'Pugio' ? a Roman military dagger...
It is forged Iron, with copper as seen on the hilt and butt.

Would like help to identify it, i only have 'google' searches to confirm my suspicions. It could be something much more recent..
So ?? anyone ?

Astral Druid

 

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[AstralDruid]

Nobody willing to have a stab at it ??

 

[Toecutter]

The hilt looks like brass from what i can see in the pics, other then that I have nothing...cool find though!!

 

[AstralDruid]

Thanks for the input
you are spot on, it is brass, don't know why i said copper..

 

[DizzyDigger]

What is the length?

 

[RTR]

I'm not much into knives,but if that's a 'Dagger' I'd hate to see what their knives look like.To me ,a dagger has a thin blade.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Looks modern.

 

[gunsil]

The way the blade is wide at the front and only sharpened at the tip indicates it was made for throwing. I agree with Jason that it is not very old. "Throwing" knives were popular in the 1950s-1970s, some still made today.

 

[Goldiver]

Very interesting blade! I like it.

Steve

 

[tamrock]

What gunsil said

A FRENCH THROWING KNIFE BY SABATIER, 20TH CENTURY, 2ND HALF

 

[CRUSADER]

Looks modern.

agreed

 

[A2coins]

That's a sweet find gotta restore that bad boy wowza

 

[AstralDruid]

Thanks for the comments..
So it seems that most consider it to be modern , and probably a throwing knife... Damn it.
It is heavy,127g (4.5 oz)without the handle/decorations........... 21.2cm (8.3 in) long... could be thrown i suppose, but seems a bit awkward to be a precision throwing item ??

I dunno , i have a feeling with this piece, probably just hope, but gonna take a risk and get it expertly verified..

Hold tight

 

[gunsil]

You all ready have. I am a life member of the Northeast Cutlery Collectors Association who specializes in fixed blade knives, and Tamrock shows a photo of a modern one very similar to yours. Be interesting to hear what your expert says though.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Without knowing anything about knife design or history, just looking at your piece should tell you it is in no way a roman piece. Does that really look like 2000 years of rust on that? I've seen 100 years old iron and steel that look 100 times worse. Doesnt matter that its underwater, theres plenty of oxygen in a river to rust anything iron based.

 

[AstralDruid]

Thanks again folks, excuse me for not knowing your individual or collective specialities, I am new to this place..and i appreciate all your input.

 

[gunsil]

No excuses necessary!! The only stupid question is that which goes unasked. Nobody can know everything, we all find things we need help identifying. Likewise many of us don't know the specialties of many members here but we learn as we go.

 

[TomBeart]

How often do you look for metal?