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Dagger

19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Lahore (made)
China (made)

The dagger hilt would most probably have been made as much for appearance as for functionality. Although, the nephrite jade would have enhanced the appearance of the dagger, the weight of the hilt would also have helped to counter-balance the steel blade. Although nephrite is a hard and durable material, one major disadvantage is that it could be liable to damage from sharp impacts, possibly sufficient to render the dagger unusable without a replacement hilt.

Object details

Categories
Arms & Armour
Gemstones
Hardstone
India Museum
Object type
Dagger
Materials and techniques
Forged steel and carved jade.
Steel
Nephrite
Brief description
Dagger [khanjar], curved steel blade, pistol grip shaped nephrite jade hilt, with floral ornament carved in low relief, Lahore, 19th century.
Physical description
Dagger [khanjar], with a doubly-curved, double-edged steel blade with a ridge running along the middle of the entire length. The blade is set into a pistol-grip shaped hilt of mottled grey nephrite jade carved in low relief with floral and foliate decoration.
Dimensions
  • 3475( is) length: 374.0mm (+/- 0.5) (Note: Overall length)
  • 3475( is) length: 250.5mm (+/- 0.5) (Note: Length of the blade from the tip to the hilt)
  • 3475( is) width: 34.6mm (Note: Width of the blade at the hilt)
  • 3475( is) thickness: 4.45mm (Note: Thickness of the blade at the hilt, across the mid-ridge)
  • 3475( is) length: 123.45mm (Note: Length of the hilt)
  • 3475( is) width: 53.0mm (Note: Width of the hilt across the quillons)
  • 3475( is) height: 17.75 & 22.30mm (Note: Widths of the hilt at the blade and at the end respectively)
Object history
This dagger was formerly in The India Museum in London and it was then transferred to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed The Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1879.
Production
Transferred from the India Museum to South Kensington Museum in 1879.
Summary
The dagger hilt would most probably have been made as much for appearance as for functionality. Although, the nephrite jade would have enhanced the appearance of the dagger, the weight of the hilt would also have helped to counter-balance the steel blade. Although nephrite is a hard and durable material, one major disadvantage is that it could be liable to damage from sharp impacts, possibly sufficient to render the dagger unusable without a replacement hilt.
Bibliographic references
  • Egerton, Wilbraham, An illustrated handbook of Indian arms; being a classified and descriptive catalogue of the arms exhibited at the India museum: with an introductory sketch of the military history of India, London, 1880 p.131
  • Lord Egerton of Tatton, Indian and Oriental Armour, London, 1896, p. 131, Cat. No. 627
Other numbers
  • 627 - Egerton Catalogue Number
  • 8536-'55 - India Museum Slip Book
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
3475(IS)

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Record createdSeptember 11, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O84174/dagger-unknown/
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