RARE MALDIVES SILVER MOUNTED DAGGER

Silver mounted hilt and scabbard with MADE IN HITADU 1945, inscribed on the grip inlay. Hitadu is an island in the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, which was a British protectorate at the time. 7” d.e. blade in thick original preservative. Shaped hilt with mother of pearl and silver inlays. Scabbard with silver throat mount. Tip mount lacking but simple and easily restored. We found one other example with the same markings identified as produced from military equipment at the end of WWII. Interestingly, that example was of clipped point Bowie form, and this is of “Arkansas Toothpick” form. Together, they represent the two forms of American fighting knives of the 19th century.