Shona Dagger
 

Hello everyone, I have had this dagger for some time and have not been sure whether it is a working or tourist piece so am hoping that more knowledgeable members will enlighten me. It is a well made item having a double edged blade with central fuller with hard wood hilt and carved scabbard both of which are bound with brass wire.

O/L is 14.5 ins having a 9.875 ins blade x 1.5 ins wide reducing to a narrow point.
Thanking you in advance.
Miguel
Pics to follow

Shona Dagger Pics
 

Sorry about this I just realized that I had forgotten to resize them. :o
Miguel

Shona Dagger Pics I hope
 

Try once more :o :o

Shona Pics fingers crossed
 

Try again
I don't know what's but am unable to submit pics :shrug:

A nice old example of this type of dagger, with the wirework undamaged. Congratulations. Although usually described as "Shona", this type of weapon was I believe, also used by other tribes further north into Malawi, such as the Yao...

Thank you Colin for your informative reply, it is much appreciated. I wasn't aware that this type of dagger was used by other tribes, do they make their own or are they traded by the Shona? I would like to see how they did the wire decoration, it is so neat and tight on the wood. Thanks again.
Miguel

Hello Miguel,

can you provide some closeups from the wooden parts, the binding and the blade?

Regards,
Detlef

I imagine the various tribal groups had their own craftsmen, who did such work. I have seen that type of wirework on different objects such as sticks, spear shafts, fly-whisks and the like. Often beautifully done. Although Africans did manufacture wire in the historic period, I think the wire itself used here is probably European in origin, the plaiting done in Africa.

Regards.

Hello Detlef,

I will provide some close-ups but I wont be able to provide them very quickly as I will be out of town next week and then I will have to get the dagger out of storage to take the pics, sorry about that.
Regards
Miguel

Thanks Colin for your comments they were much appreciated.

Regards
Miguel

New pics
 

Hello Detlef,

I have taken some fresh pics with close-ups as requested.
Miguel

Two more.

Hi Miguel,

thank you for the much better pictures. Definitely not a tourist piece but a very nice dagger made for tribal use. First half of 20th century?

Regards,
Detlef