✅ SOLVED KNife experts wanted

[oldbattleaxe]

I would like some ideas what a short bladed dagger would do for protection other than cutting? I thought the blade could be from a push dagger/knife since it only measures 3 1//4" long. The complete length is 7 1/4" This knife looks like it was manufactured with the perfect lines and the notches at the guard. What is your take on this knife? Thanks

 

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[Terry Soloman]

It is a "utility" knife, used for any number of tasks from cutting rope, removing rocks from horseshoes/hooves, eating. Much like a pocket knife.

 

[Crappies-n-Coins]

Don't take a knife to a gun fight

 

[Broken knee]

Well the proper name for that would be a boot knife. HH
BK

 

[gunsil]

Boot knives don't usually have such large guards, makes them hard to draw. Looks like a home made knife but for what use you'd have to ask the maker. 3" blade isn't much for a self defense or attack knife. Double edged knives are illegal in many states.

 

[oldbattleaxe]

I googled gamblers push knife and came up with these. The blade looks like it was manufactured. Where it meets the guard is as sharp as the blade which is as sharp as a razor blade. My thinking, it was a push knife and the part in the stag could also be sharp? That would make the stabbing surface deeper. Take a look at these pics. My thinking anyway. Thanks

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Oyster shucking knife?

That, or someone bought WAY too large a guard from Atlantic Cutlery or Dixie when they put the pieces of a small dagger blade on a mediun sized stag handle.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Well the proper name for that would be a boot knife. HH
BK

I don't think so with that guard. Boot knives look like this

 

[oldbattleaxe]

I googled gamblers push knife and came up with these. The blade looks like it was manufactured. Where it meets the guard is as sharp as the blade which is as sharp as a razor blade. My thinking, it was a push knife and the part in the stag could also be sharp? That would make the stabbing surface deeper. Take a look at these pics. My thinking anyway. ThanksView attachment 1281598View attachment 1281599View attachment 1281600View attachment 1281601

The blade looks like damascus

 

[Broken knee]

Here are some other boot knifes with longer guards. HH
BK

 

[gunsil]

Here are some other boot knifes with longer guards. HH
BK

Maybe a seller is calling those boot knives but they are not. Boot knives have no guards or narrow guards. Tons of knives on ebay erroneously called boot knives. Push knives always have the 90 degree mounted handle. Like Charlie says, looks like it was assembled from parts available from Dixie Gun Works, Atlanta Cutlery, or any of the firms that sell ready made parts for people to assemble their own "custom knives".

 

[Drew32215]

Nice dagger! It's an old knife I can tell by the color/patina of the blade looks carbon steel, brass guard and (one pin), and it looks like to me bone handle on a partial tang construction which is weak. Daggers main purpose is for stabbing so therefore it's a fighting knife designed to be carried in a sheath and it doesn't matter where carried on a hip or in a boot. I'm a knife collector and if I were to add this knife to my collection I'd regard this dagger just as a show and tell piece but no I wouldn't use this knife as a utility knife or for hunting.

 

[oldbattleaxe]

Thanks to all that has commented. I have to agree with Drew. I did know it is an old real knife. I couldn't figure out why a blade would be so short. Found the push knives and daggers as a potential id. But after Drew pointed out fighting knife, I googled early fighting knives or daggers and found some with the short blades and horn and bone handles with cross guards. These sights point out what their use was for and are in the same category as a push knife or dagger. I knew that it wasn't a put together fantasy piece or a utility knife.

 

[gunsil]

Some folks will think what they want, and there is as much bad info on the net as there is fact. Your knife isn't old at all, like likely less than thirty years old, and it was not a factory made knife it is a put-together knife. I'd suggest you take it to a knife show and talk to those who really know. I have been collecting knives for over fifty years and have many many books and thousands of knives. I am a life member of the Northeast Cutlery Collector's Association and a member of the Empire Knife Club and attend ten or so knife shows a year. One of my areas of interest is American fighting knives, and believe me, your little bladed knife would not cut it as a fighter. A fighter needs to be long enough to pierce deep into a large torso and yours will not do so. Remember a push dagger although it has a short blade has a long tang giving it the ability to pierce deeply.

 

[oldbattleaxe]

I respect your opinion since you claim to be an expert. I have been a Civil War collector for 40 years. I am not an expert. That is why I put this on this site. This was not an ebay purchase. I do not believe it is a put together fantasy piece. Can you explain the push knife theory? Most of those knives had 3" to 3 1/2" blades, are they fake? They are considered fighting knives. You are correct that it wouldn't be very lethal. I am just saying my friend that unless you can prove to me that all of those push knifes are fake I will disagree with you. I will never claim to be an expert because there is always something I can learn about relics. That is why I am on here. Examples above shows proven 3 1/4" blades that are obviously not fake. But thanks for your opinion. Just found this on WIKI

 

[Drew32215]

You are correct the knife isn't a fake or fantasy knife. I never claimed to be an expert either but I know a spear point dagger when I see one. A 3 1/2" pointy dagger blade is plenty sufficient enough to pierce even if the blade is dull. The point does the piercing and with just a small enough amount of force the blade will slide through very easily.

In the past knife makers did not always sell knives with razor sharp pointy blades and that is still true to this day that if a person wanted to put their own edge on a knife the maker would not put an edge on the knife and this isn't uncommon.

I don't agree that this knife wasn't manufactured since knife manufacturing has been around during the 1800s and more so during the early 1900s. I wouldn't jump to conclusions or guess that the knife is only 30 years old. I did notice in the picture that whom ever made the blade actually took the time to put a decent grind (flat or convex?) on the blade and a sharpening choil at the tang. However, on a fixed blade knife a full tang construction is desirable over a partial tang construction, but with daggers having a full tang construction isn't necessary to do the job as long as the blade can pierce.

I'd add a thin coat of mineral oil to the carbon steel blade and bone handle to clean and moisten and then I'd wipe it completely dry and keep it away from moisture. Rust is bad for carbon steel knives.

Lastly, as far as I know a deer stag or horn handles is typically more desirable with knife collectors than bovine cow bone. One thing I don't like about bone handles is that they can get brittle and if dropped on a hard surface they will shatter and break, but jig bone handles are still very collectible. However, if you want to get a ball park figure on what your knife might be worth just go to eBay and type in vintage daggers and browse the listings of daggers comparible with yours and also check out the completed listings to see how much buyers have paid for similar knives. At auction your knife is only as valuable as what buyers are willing to pay.

 

[gunsil]

Well, oldbattleaxe, here's what you should do. Rather than ask a bunch of folks on a treasure forum about a knife you should post it on Blade Forum in Bernard Levine's Knife Identification section. There you will get answers from more experienced knife makers and collectors. Also look for a knife show in your area. You don't show your location or I'd give you info on any knife clubs or shows in your area. If you are really interested in finding out more about your knife I'll see it posted on Blade Forum, if not I'll know you really don't wish to know what it really is.

 

[gunsil]

Here are just a few REAL fighting knives from my collection just so others can see what real ones look like.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Seriously folks, the knife in question is a home built project, possibly a "first" knife for the maker. It is a miniature "dagger" style knife with an over sized guard. It is no more than a utility knife.

Gambler's push knives were built for a very specific job - to be concealed; be drawn quickly from the vest; and primarily used as a slashing blade. I've owned and sold dozen's.

Fighting knives are well represented by Gunsil. The Bowie Knife is also considered a fighting knife.

Here are a few of the knives I have bought and sold over the years.