Copper dagger

[tmerrifield]

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.

[tmerrifield]

here is the sheath

[wendy177]

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

[mart]

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

[JoshandLila]

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

[tmerrifield]

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

[greenacres]

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

[talesofthesevenseas]

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!

[greenacres]

This was made in Germany.

[tmerrifield]

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.

[mart]

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 !!

[JoshandLila]

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