India, Princely States. A Fighting Dagger

This dagger has a magnetic steel blade, with a very sharp blade and a very sharp tip, the point raised slightly, marked "INDIA" on the obverse ricasso and incorporates a narrow spine. The blade exhibits a few nicks, along with scattered contact marks overall from active use, the blade measuring 200 mm in length. The crossguard is brass with ball finial-style quillons at either end, that also includes a u-shaped tab in the middle on the obverse, supported by a brass ring that butts the wooden handle. The blade is embedded into a wooden handle with a lacquered finish, the grip with an ornate engraved pattern incorporating multiple floral-like swirls on both sides, along with both edges designed with a series of decorative niches. The pommel widens and finishes in a rounded-style that allows the dagger to rest comfortably against the user's hand, the dagger measuring 310 mm in length. The accompanying scabbard is engraved in the centre on both sides, with two rows of multiple floral-like swirls flanking a stem that runs down between them, the stem terminating with an explosive cluster of petals butting other floral swirls, flanked by a series of curved nitches on either side. The throat is designed with a brass ring that sits in the recessed area carved out of the wood. Attached to the obverse is a bar with a notch, the bar raised as it passes over the throat and extends forward, designed to insert into the u-shaped tab on the crossguard and lock in place at the notch, the base of the bar secured in place to the wooden scabbard by two screws. The scabbard measures 225 mm in length, however, it is missing its brass chape as evidenced by the recessed area carved out at the tip. Fair.