Composite Dagger

The hilt of steel consists of an oval pommel, a pair of short crossguards and a shell guard outside the hand parallel to the blade.  The pommel and shell are chiselled in high relief with equestrian figures.  The crossguards each consist of a horseman galloping away from the mouth of a monster.  The blade which is two-edged with a stout central rib on one face may be from an oriental spear.  The pommel and guards are from a civilian dress-sword of the middle of the 17th century.  Swords and daggers of this type were highly sought after by Victorian and early 20th Century collectors.