Unidentified dagger.

[444 Magnum]

I just acquired this dagger. Neither it nor the sheath have any identifying marks. The metal work is unique to me. Both sides are identical. Both the knife and the sheath show age and patina.
Any help in identifying this knife and it's origins would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MelvinWalker]

This one like multiple models rolled into one knife....From one standpoint, it looks like an old Richtig custom fighting knife. Then it looks a little bit like an Applegate variety....Then throw in a PAL from WW2 to Vietnam era.

It's got me, especially with no markings. That leads me to believe a custom manufacturer.

 

[BenTolson]

Blades & guards are typically soldered. The way the brass & steel are brazed together is very impressive. John Nelson Cooper and Gary Little are the only makers I'm familiar with that would do that. The sheath is typical of 1940's & 50's for Western, Marble's, Ka-Bar, ect. I don't think it actually came with the knife, it's too simple. The blade is very much like Cooper's... I'd start there if I was you. Nice find...

 

[Greyman50]

Theater made WWII fighting knife. Need to find and look it up in one of Coles books on knives and bayonets. There were thousands of them made.

 

[crasig]

It looks to me as if the one side of the blade nearest the hilt is filed/ground down possibly to remove brand name or country of manufacture. None the less - I like & would have given it a home also. great find.

 

[444 Magnum]

I posted the dagger on a few forums. Theatre made knife seems to be the consensus so far.
One member said the blade looked like the AuLion made (French) Mark I fighting knife from WWI. The US version of the Mark I has a tapered tang where it meets the guard. They also made wooden handled daggers with a similar blade. Here are pictures from his post.





Possibly this was made from a damaged trench knife. Stacked leather handles and a bronze pommel. The brazing between the guard and the blade is what impressed me. It sets this dagger apart from other theatre made knives that I have seen.

 

[444 Magnum]

Blades & guards are typically soldered. The way the brass & steel are brazed together is very impressive. John Nelson Cooper and Gary Little are the only makers I'm familiar with that would do that. The sheath is typical of 1940's & 50's for Western, Marble's, Ka-Bar, ect. I don't think it actually came with the knife, it's too simple. The blade is very much like Cooper's... I'd start there if I was you. Nice find...

Thanks Ben.
A John Nelson Cooper knife.


That knife is signed of course. According to Wikipedia, Mr. Cooper patented the brazing process we are looking at.

"As a full-time knifemaker, he noticed that his traditional methods of knife making could leave gaps between blade, guard, and handle material where water or blood could collect and eventually corrode the knife. He developed a new method of construction which made the knife and handle into a solid, bonded unit by welding, brazing, and using epoxy. He patented these ideas in 1967 (3481038) and 1971 (3595104)."

 

[swagmeister]

Another vote for theater made knife. Great looking weapon and seems to be very well made. Thanks for showing.

 

[diyj98]

Most similar knives are called theater knives, but without any provenance I don't think it's normally possible to attribute them to being made in any particular location or time frame. There's been plenty of knives and daggers made from various military blades over the years right here in the U.S. I had a cousin who used to make very neat looking knives using old bayonet blades.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

Theater knife.

Most likely made custom for a spec ops customer.

 

[BenTolson]

The "brazing" of the blade to tang is post Korea... it was available during Vietnam... however the process couldn't have been done "in theater"...

https://www.arizonacustomknives.com/products/1007704/
The above knife is similar to the OP... Cooper made thousands of knives over the years... many for service personnel during WWII, Korea & Vietnam... His early stuff isn't as "polished" as his later stuff... his big Bowie's were extremely popular, especially the "Iron Mistress"...
Here's another link some more of his work...
https://nordicknives.com/collections/cooper-john-nelson
Below is a link to Gary Little's work... much more contemporary... Gary also was also well known for his "cloud damascus".
https://www.arizonacustomknives.com/products/1073134/
Below are some of the knives I previously owned... I was an avid collector for over 40 years... not much left, but there are alot of fond memories... That's a Cooper knuckle fighter in the middle picture...

 

[Onomea]

Very nice, whoever made it. You might try posting it on BladeForums. There are a lot of well informed guys over there.

 

[Toolie]

BenTolson hell of a collection, love the Ruanas. Coopers are fine knives.

 

[Jim0001]

I just acquired this dagger. Neither it nor the sheath have any identifying marks. The metal work is unique to me. Both sides are identical. Both the knife and the sheath show age and patina.
Any help in identifying this knife and it's origins would be greatly appreciated.

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Very nice !

 

[444 Magnum]

Thanks everyone. I just ordered a couple of books about John Nelson Cooper. I'm going to explore his early work and see what I come up with. I'll update the post if anything turns up.

 

[M14sRock]

Check out Richtig Knives online. Yours is very reminiscent of them.