Is this a modern brazed dagger or an antique?

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I found this item buried in the ground while metal detecting in my dad's yard. He had no idea it was there or where it came from - he's owned the home since 1977. I nicked the metal and it is gold colored under the "patina." I want to know if it is a "modern" item made from bar stock or brazing rods, as it were, or if it is an antique. I figured that folks who are familiar with welding and brazing would be able to tell me if it were made with modern materials and techniques (sometime in the 20th century) - or not. Please check the photos, the full length photo is at the bottom. Attached Images
Reply:How deep was it compared to the coins and how old are the coins? It looks like it would have originally had a wrapped leather handle. Depending on how far down it was in relation to other known artifacts and whether it was in an undisturbed layer or one that was disturbed during construction or later on it could be at least as old as the house or the last time the yard was dug up or it could be as old as the layer of soil it was found in. Is the blade made of bronze as well or just certain parts? If it was iron or steel it would be more deteriorated than it is.
Reply:Looks to me like it has grinder marks, or marks that look to have been made with a disk grinder. Also the joint between the hilt and the handle looks a lot like a SMAW weld that has been ground away.Last edited by fortyonethirty; 05-03-2011 at 04:37 PM.Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:I don't know what you would end up if you forged the cross piece on,it might look like that.The grinding wheel i used to use to sharpen things, left marks like that,it had a big stone wheel a metal bicycle seat and a pedal to spin it.Hadn't thought about that thing in ages.
Reply:It doesn't show anywhere near the signs of rust I'd expect from a real antique. I've seen guns and knives from the Civil war that were almost completely rusted beyond recognition that had been dug up in farm fields. I'd guess some ones shop project that got mislaid..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Does not look very old for being found in dirt, I agree.No consensus on age in your poll. Last edited by tanglediver; 05-04-2011 at 03:18 AM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:looks like saw or some kind of milling marks. I wouldnt get excited.Weldanpower 225 G7Ironworkers Local #24
Reply:Looks to me like it is old (pre electric age at least). I do not see grinder marks, no curve at all. Could be a form of file marks. Forge welding is what you see, not electric.I could be wrong, usually am.Have it looked at by someone knowledgeable in artifacts for your area.Where is your location?Tim Beeker.
Reply:No mention was made about responding to a magnet. If the dagger had an arc welded joint between the hilt and the handle I am confident it would respond to probing with a magnet.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor