Dagger, D65.1054

Brass handle, brass guard (between handle and blade), wooden handle with 2 small bone/ivory rings around handle, brass ball, copper top.
Symmetrical double edge brass blade with incised/stamped decorations near area below handle. Four corner brass guard between blade and handle. Dark wooden handle is interrupted approx. 2/3 distance up from guard with two small rings of bone/ivory(?) - wooden handle ending with carved filial, topped with brass ball which has multiple parallel incisions running the circumference, again topped with a copper(?) filial . Dagger/letter opener appears to be hand made with file marks covering blade. General appearance is of a nicely made dagger which has received some use and remains in good condition.

Length from point of dagger to top of handle = approx. 236mm. Diameter of handle = approx. 14.3mm. Diameter of ball at top of handle = approx. 23.5mm.

Brass handle, brass guard (between handle and blade), wooden handle with 2 small bone/ivory rings around handle, brass ball, copper top.

Box says "Dagger" - which it certainly is - while Sarah Brodie notes say "letter opener" which also it well could be. Symmetrical double edge brass blade with incised/stamped decorations near area below handle. Four corner brass guard between blade and handle. Dark wooden handle is interrupted approx. 2/3 distance up from guard with two small rings of bone/ivory(?) - wooden handle ending with carved filial, topped with brass ball which has multiple parallel incisions running the circumference, again topped with a copper(?) filial . Dagger/letter opener appears to be hand made with file marks covering blade. General appearance is of a nicely made dagger which has received some use and remains in good condition.

Length from point of dagger to top of handle = approx. 236mm. Diameter of handle = approx. 14.3mm. Diameter of ball at top of handle = approx. 23.5mm. —Joel A Vanderburg

Locality: Sierra Leone