A man's last line of self defense in the Old West was often his trusty dagger. It could not jam, run out of ammunition, or misfire. The finest daggers intended for sale in the American West were made by well respected English cutlers in Sheffield, among the most famous of which was Joseph Rodgers & Sons. This Antique 1880s Old West Joseph Rodgers & Sons Ebony Handle Large English Dirk Fighting Knife Dagger is in Good Condition, with a chip to the blade tip, some nicking to the upper blade edges, some sharpening to the blade edges, some cleaning, scratching, and pitting at each side of the blade, moderate dark pitting at each side of the ricasso, some scattered cleaning, scratching, pitting, and patina to the guard, some patina to the tang, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the knife is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features a hefty, intimidating 8 1/8” bright double edge dagger spearpoint blade with a deep central fuller running the entire length at each side, sports elegant dark brown checkered ebony handle scales secured by 4 nickel silver pins (and with a nickel silver blank escutcheon on the left handle scale), and is stamped at the left side of the blade with its maker, “JOSEPH RODGERS & SONS / 6 NORFOLK ST, SHEFFIELD”, along with the firm’s two traditional proof marks. The lack of “ENGLAND” in the maker’s mark denotes pre-1890 manufacture, as after 1890, in accordance with the McKinley Tariff, all foreign made knives imported into the US had to be stamped with the country of origin. It boasts a thick nickel silver full guard, and is complete with the original Antique 1880s Brown Leather Scabbard in Good Condition, with some small surface cracks around the bottom end tip, and with some overall scratching, crazing, spot darkening, and age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it bears understated “chain link” line embossing down the sides at front and back, carries a sewn leather belt loop extending from the upper back, and the set is a fine example of a very rare, original Antique 1880s Old West Joseph Rodgers & Sons Ebony Handle Large English Dirk Fighting Knife Dagger.