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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: tmerrifield on November 13, 2011, 12:20:28 pm

Title: Copper dagger
Post by: tmerrifield on November 13, 2011, 12:20:28 pm

ok, it's been awhile since I made use of your expertise.  I've got a dagger , copper blade, brass handle and copper? sheath, sheath is cloth lined.

Very ornate.    blade is 6 inches long, 3/4 wide and about 1/4 inch thick in center.  No manufacturer marks that I can find.

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: tmerrifield on November 13, 2011, 12:22:53 pm

here is the sheath

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: wendy177 on November 13, 2011, 02:26:15 pm

I would say dagger No...... very pretty ornate letter opener   :)

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: mart on November 13, 2011, 02:27:33 pm

Looks more like a letter opener !!  Copper is too soft for a dagger !!

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: JoshandLila on November 13, 2011, 02:33:27 pm

Definitely a letter opener.. but still a very nice piece, beautiful casting

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: tmerrifield on November 13, 2011, 02:51:38 pm

ok, that makes sense, definately was not a cutting tool , 

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: greenacres on November 13, 2011, 07:56:15 pm

I thought it was a letter opener too. I have one that looks similar.

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 14, 2011, 01:18:16 pm

I agree also, copper is too soft and you would also see a "blood channel" or groove down the blade if it was intended to be used to open up living creatures rather than envelopes!

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: greenacres on November 14, 2011, 02:41:07 pm

This was made in Germany.

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: tmerrifield on November 14, 2011, 06:46:26 pm

Thanks for all the great input.     makes sense to me,  hadn't even  thought of  a letter opener,  seemed to ornate and solid.   Any thoughts on how I might determine age?   like I said, no manfactures mark,  and not cheaply made.

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: mart on November 14, 2011, 07:06:41 pm

Best way is just to google and search till you find something similar !!  If its German made,, that narrows the field a bit !! Try everything that fits the object !! I would start with "German copper letter openers" then just start looking !!  Won`t be easy !!

Title: Re: Copper dagger
Post by: JoshandLila on November 14, 2011, 07:26:23 pm

just a note, not all knives have the fullers or "blood channels". some are fullered but thats normally to take excess weight off the blade.. but anything other than carbon steel would be inferior and unusable for a real blade anyway