Best 8"+ production dagger.

V

Vulcanite

Joined
Jan 16, 2009
Messages
293
I am looking for a dagger for under $100. Dagger as defined as a thin double edged blade w/ a double guard. Think british commando knife.

Criteria:
-8 to 9" blade, no less, no more
-double guard (will be using hammer grip)
-no serrations on either edge
-non-round cross section handle. I don't want to have to look at it to orient the edges.

Thinking of the cold steel OSS. I really like the sub hilt.

Also thinking of a "SWiss dagger". Boker makes a fantastic one but it is over $250. I love the handle design. Does anyone know of one closer to $100 that doesnt' have all the nazi/ss markings on it?
 
Last edited:
Daggers aren't really all that great for utility work and iirc there's only one state that allows people to lawfully carry a dagger concealed (with a ccw permit) so they don't have even remotely the kind of market that other styles have unless you're talking about high-end custom arty collector pieces.

Cold Steel probably is your best bet. Besides the OSS you might be able to find a Tai Pan somewhere.
 
Go custom :D
 
Dang,
what state is that? Did you mean to say that only one state allows you to carry a dagger w/o a CCW?

I know that most places disallow you to carry a dagger etc concealed, but usually do allow for the non-visible carrying of a small folding "ordinary type pocket knife" w/ various restrictions on blade length and style. Or they allow open carrying of knife.

AKAIK, in FL, there is no restriction, at the state level at least, on open carrying knife.

I guess if it was too much of a PIA, I would get a single edge dagger like knife.
 
BTW, I see that there are a bunch of the swiss style replica SS knives on the market but they are like $10-$20, probably are even sharp and certainly are just for looking at.

Same problem w/ the 1917 and 1918 trench knives. I can't effin believe no one makes functional affordible versions of these knives.

Ohhh, why does the gov restrict everything i love :grumpy:
 
Production daggers over 8" are rare, and most of the few I can think of are way over a hundred, just from the sheer materials cost; a knife with an 8" blade has a lot more metal in it than most.
Looks like the OSS might be the only choice that explicitly suits your criteria, but there's a long list if you're willing to bend a bit.

If the OSS isn't daggery enough, Cold Steel used to make one called The Corsican. Was a very cool Bud Nealy design, a little smaller than your criteria, but the price is right, and you could hide it just anywhere. It was a wonderfully designed dagger, but its intended market was so narrow that it wasn't very successful; those in the military have a host of better options, and everyday civilians are either A) disinclined to carry a purpose-built weapon, or B) disinclined to carry a purpose-built weapon that isn't useful for anything else.
 
Vulcanite said:
what state is that? Did you mean to say that only one state allows you to carry a dagger w/o a CCW?
Click to expand...

Florida allows the carrying of weapon-oriented knives with a concealed weapon permit. I think it's the only state that allows this.



From the word of the law:

790.01 Carrying concealed weapons.--
(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person who carries a concealed weapon or electric weapon or device on or about his or her person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
...
(3) This section does not apply to a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm pursuant to the provisions of s. 790.06.


790.001. Definitions.
(3)(a) "Concealed weapon" means any dirk, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the weapon from the ordinary sight of another person.
 
I don't think you need the carry permit to open carry. If you have the carry permit, you can conceal carry.

I am wanting something like this b/c I dont' have a large fighting specific knife for theoretical open carry, home defense etc. Also, I am toying w/ carrying this concealed in slightly modified pants.
 
AfterTFD said:
Florida allows the carrying of weapon-oriented knives with a concealed weapon permit. I think it's the only state that allows this.



From the word of the law:

790.01 Carrying concealed weapons.--
(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person who carries a concealed weapon or electric weapon or device on or about his or her person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
...
(3) This section does not apply to a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon or a concealed firearm pursuant to the provisions of s. 790.06.


790.001. Definitions.
(3)(a) "Concealed weapon" means any dirk, metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon carried on or about a person in such a manner as to conceal the weapon from the ordinary sight of another person.
Click to expand...

What about Iowa?

Iowa doesnt have a concealed carry permit. Iowa has a "Permit to Carry Dangerous Weapons". Technically, you do not need to conceal when you carry in Iowa with one.

"Dangerous weapons" has a distinct definition in Iowa law too.

"A "dangerous weapon" is any instrument
or device designed primarily for use in inflicting death
or injury upon a human being or animal... Dangerous
weapons include, but are not limited to, any offensive
weapon... firearm, dagger, razor, stiletto, switchblade
knife, or knife having a blade exceeding five inches in
length."

Thats the part dealing with what a "dangerous weapon" is, pertaining to knives anyway. So, with a carry permit, you can carry any of the above (sans offensive weapons, which are different) concealed or otherwise.

It gets muddier, as the law states, "Except as provided in this section, a person who goes
armed with a dangerous weapon concealed on or about the
person... commits an aggravated misdemeanor."

I read that as meaning that it is technically legal to open carry.
 
In Iowa open carry is legal but not something anyone ever does (at least anywhere I've been) so it might result in some aggressive questioning by the police.

Also with open carry you are legally bound to behave a certain way- if you're ever rude or aggressive it can land you in jail.
 
I guess that is the other side of "an armed society is a polite society"

I think that most states' CWL are for weapon, not just firearms. One thing I recall is that in LA, it is a weapon license, but out of state permit holders are only authorized to carry firearm, not other weapon for some reason.

But as to open carry of knives in most states, I don't know.

I fully support the notion of open carry. There are certain tactical disadvantages, and some benefits. I wish that there was a nice mix of open and concealed carry in society, though I would probably carry concealed most of the time. I believe there would be many sociological benefits of this.

There are some open carry organizations in the country. Something about a right not exercized is a right lost or something. No go in FL though, guns, so I havnen't gotten involved. The more people do it, the better it is for you if you decide to do it.
 
AfterTFD said:
In Iowa open carry is legal but not something anyone ever does (at least anywhere I've been) so it might result in some aggressive questioning by the police.

Also with open carry you are legally bound to behave a certain way- if you're ever rude or aggressive it can land you in jail.
Click to expand...

Thats why I said "technically"...

Even then, without a carry permit, it is illegal to have a loaded gun in a car.

Open carrying a gun here would be stupid. Too many side laws and muddy areas. Even out here in the boonies it would attract a lot of unwanted attention. The cities would be nuts.


LOTS of people open carry knives though.


Didnt mean to hijack the thread.
 
If you've got your heart set on an eight-inch blade, then go for it. But there's a reason why there are very few of them made: It's a bit too big to really be practical.

You might also want to look at things like pig-stickers and Arkansas toothpicks. You'll find a lot more of them with longer blades than you will commando-type knives.
 
So just pick up a Nowill mfgd. Fairbairn-Sykes?

I dunno what mine's good for, but I love it anyhow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top