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Ceremonial dagger(s)

Hi guys,

I recently acquired these knives/daggers and was wondering your input on them and if there may be any value. All I know is one is a ceremonial dagger and the other I'm not too sure about.

Can't seem to find and brand marks or anything on the blades.

Thanks!

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dagger4.jpg, 239 KB

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on June 2, 2013 at 20:45

Generally speaking if there are no markings on the dagger, it is helpful to understand the history. Where its from, what it was used for, even who owned it.

If you look at eBay the asking prices run from about $100-250. But usually folks want to know some information to have with the daggers.

Here is a link to an example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Old-Arab-Java-Kris-Rare-Carved-Wood...

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Permalink Reply by dave on June 2, 2013 at 20:53

Thanks a lot for looking that up, I couldn't find much myself on it. Unfortunately I got it at an Auction so there wasn't much information about it besides it being quite old :)

Any idea on the second one or is that just some generic dagger from back in the day?

Thanks again.

Steve Hanner said:

Generally speaking if there are no markings on the dagger, it is helpful to understand the history. Where its from, what it was used for, even who owned it.

If you look at eBay the asking prices run from about $100-250. But usually folks want to know some information to have with the daggers.

Here is a link to an example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Old-Arab-Java-Kris-Rare-Carved-Wood...

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on June 2, 2013 at 21:04

The wooden ones no, The more ornate dagger does have some fine markings carved or pressed into the handle and case

They are difficult to make out but could have been made by the English Sheffield Cutlers. Although with those you find a mark which identifies where it came from(or more rightly who made it).

Another possibility is it might have Celtic origins.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on June 3, 2013 at 2:46

Dave, I'm inclined to agree with Steve about the Dirk (dagger) possibly being Celtic in origin. Heres a site you can explore to possibly help you better identify it. http://www.darkknightarmoury.com/c-57-scottish-daggers.aspx I'll keep checking on it and the other one. It looks more primitive in nature so there may not be specific information other than type or style. I'll let you know.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Parham on June 3, 2013 at 3:38

Dave, Steve had it pegged with his second I.D. of the wooden sheathed piece. It is a Kris.

The Kris Dagger also known as Keris comes from the West/Southern Pacific region. This includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, and Singapore. In the southern Phillipines it is also known as the Kalis Dagger. It consists of 3 parts:

1- Bilah (blade) Various types of steel hammer forged by hand (Damascus) into the noticibly wavy blade yet some are straight.

2- Hulu (hilt) Hand carved which can be adorned and/or made from rare woods, ivory, gold.

3- Warangka (sheath) Also carved from rare wood and sometimes richly decorated.

The Kris was not typically used as a primary weapon of combat but instead an piece of auxiliary equipment. It was however considered just as important. It is said to have magical powers and was worn as a Talisman by Court soldiers to ward off evil. They were so valuable to the soldier some were Pusakas which is a sanctified heirloom passed down form generation to generation. There are legends from Mpu Gandring, Taming Sari, and Setan Kober of mystical powers given to the one who carried a Kris.

I hope this helps.