There were never daggers, to my memory, but you have a few basic weapons in the first room and a lot of drops in containers when you go through Coldharbor.

There was definitely a change, before the last beta. There are a LOT of weapons in containers though. I think I've found all types.

Under the old armory you could get dual axes. No daggers. They reduced the choices for various reasons but you can now actually take all the ones available.

I for one didn't like the fact you could no longer pick a bow at the start. nor was there 2 one handers to dual wield with (though a mob or chest droppped me a second weapon fairly fast). I searched everywhere and opened every chest, urn, etc all the way through the tutorial editor, and no bow. I ground mobs for awhile and no bow.

I did see at least 1 person in cold harbour using a bow, so I know its possible to get one, the game just decided that it wasn't for me.

It is wrong in my opinion to have this be possible. Its a small thing but I missed out on a fair amount of Xp for my chosen weapon (I was almost lvl 5 when i left cold harbour), and was forced to use weapons and gain xp in weapon lines I wont pick up again. There used to be bows and dual wield options from the get go, why on earch did they change it?

Did they feel it was nesecary to give 1h/s, staff, and 2h users a bit of a head start on their weapon line of choice for some reason?

If you're looking for duel weapons to level in that skill, you won't find them on the table in the second Wailing Prison dungeon. However, for my two dual wielding characters, I've managed to get two weapons before I get out of the dungeon by doing this:

After the weapons table, you'll go to the next two dungeons and meet Lyris Titanborn. She'll lead you to the open area filled with Flame Atronachs and Feral Shriven. Just start killing all of them you can find. You might have to kill fifty or seventy of them, but eventually you'll get a second one-hand weapon - usually an axe or a mace. Then level up like you want.

I do this so I can use my skill points on dual wielding right out of the gate. I hope that helps.

Just for the record, I killed many things and looted many containers and chests but never got a dagger. Did get more swords, shields and light/medium gear, though. I don't even have enough gold yet to buy a dagger. Hopefully I get a drop or rewarded one via quest soon. Could really use a dual dagger choice from the beginning to help out an assassin lover here.