"Conquistador" Art Dagger

Made in 1993, This older/early knife is a beautiful dagger that I still find handsome and unique. The blade is double edged, symmetrical, and hollow ground from medium and high carbon steels, damascus pattern welded in a twist pattern. The blade is successively ground and etched, followed with a final bluing to set off the bold pattern. It's about seven inches long. The cross guard was turned in mild steel, blued and antiqued for character to match the theme of the knife. The rabbeted tang handle is nickel silver framework with sterling silver bezels that hold a striking pair of Pietersite Agate gemstone handle scales. This rare Pietersite is some of the last of the material from Africa, with deep cobalt blue tiger eye chatoyant colors with striking golds and fibrous whites, a fascinating material that I wish I could find more of. The handle is polished to a bright, glassy luster. The knife is accompanied by a unique engraved leather sheath (scabbard) with crosses in southwestern/early Spanish design cut into the leather face and back. The sheath is bonded with carved rosette silver screws, and silver engraved chape mouthpiece and chape tip. The dagger and sheath are at home on an intricate and bold stand that has two carved Indian Green Moss Agate pillars supporting the guard, while a small Pietersite Agate socket mounted in sterling silver bezel confines the dagger point. The base of the stand is polished Brazilian Agate gemstone, a very hard, tough, and solid geode with interesting pattern and natural outer texture. The knife is accompanied by my poetry (many of my early art works were) in engraved black lacquered brass on a walnut frame.

The photos here were created from scanned chemical prints; this is one I wish I had more photos of!