Dagger
ClassificationsArms and Armor-daggers
Date19th Century
Made AtManus Province, Papua New Guinea
MediumWood, stingray barb, fiber and beads
Dimensions13 7/8 × 2 1/8 × 2 in. (35.2 × 5.4 × 5.1 cm)
Credit LineBowers Museum Purchase
Object number2019.20.2
DescriptionThis is a stingray barb dagger made and used throughout the Admiralty Islands. While these knives are characterized as having been used in combat, most Admiralty Islands warfare took place at a distance with thrown or wielded spears. Though there are accounts of stingray tooth daggers being used as in combat to attack already downed opponents, many would either have been used as tools—potentially even as hair ornaments—or, depending on the shape of the handle, could alternatively have originally been socketed into a shaft to form a spear. Stingray barb tipped spears often featured the variety of crocodile motif seen here, however they generally have more than one point. The wrapping of the handle also indicates that this would have been used as a dagger.On View
Not on view
19th to 20th Century
early to mid 20th Century
late 19th Century
mid 19th - early 20th Century
20th Century
1871-1879
late 20th Century