Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


1146 - East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath

This dagger features a straight double edged blade that tapers to its point over most of its 6¼ inches (15.8 cm) length. The blade has a slightly convex central face surrounded by wide edge bevels. The blade shows scattered dark patches some associated with mild pitting. The wooden hilt is mostly dark brown heart wood and has a flattened hexagonal cross-section beside the base of the blade. The hilt transitions through a round cross section towards its center before expanding out to form a round pommel. This expanded round hilt termination includes some light sap wood and there is also a likely repair of part of the disk having been glued back into place. There is a hemispherical iron tang washer. The dagger measures 10¼ inches (26.5 cm) in overall length and weighs 4.6 ounces (131 grams). The knife is accompanied by an old red-brown leather sheath that has bands of tan grey reptilian leather trim and an attached braided leather arm ring. There is some cracking and scuffing to the leather and trim, but these are not distracting. Sheathed, the length is 10¾ inches (27 cm) with a weight of about 6 ounces (173 grams).


East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath

East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath

East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath

East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath



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