Original U.S. 1890s Push Dagger with Wood Handle Marked “Patent Applied For”

Original Item. Only One Available. This is a lovely piece of fighting equipment, a small “push dagger”. It originated as a close-combat weapon for civilians in the early 19th century, and also saw some use in the trench warfare of World War I.

This example has a 4” handle with wood to each end and the steel in the center being stamped PATENT APPLIED FOR. The blade is 3 ⅛” long, with ¾” finger recesses.

A push dagger (alternately known as a punch dagger, punch knife, push knife or, less often, a push dirk) is a short-bladed dagger with a "T"-shaped handle, designed to be grasped and held in a closed-fist hand, so that the blade protrudes from the front of the fist; either between the index and middle fingers, or between the two central fingers, when the grip and blade are symmetrical. 

Ready for display.