Triple Dagger

Jim McDougall · 16th July 2005, 05:43 AM

Bill,
Extremely nice example of these multiple dagger sets which are indeed Sudanese, and I believe many examples were fashioned in workshops in Omdurman, from about the Mahdist period. These have been suggested to have certain ritual association, however more research is needed to support that. These seem to occur in variations including pairs of daggers joined to Persian maces of the devil or bullhead forms and also covered in either crocodile or monitor lizard hide. From the photos the age and the thuluth suggest end of 19th to early 20th century, but if these were indeed ritual items it would be hard to say, could be later.
Interesting pommel form which seems variant and recalls the familiar hilts of the koummya daggers of Morocco, and which of course seem to have diffused throughout North Africa.
It seems these really are somewhat unavailable typically, and most examples not as well made as these.
All the best,
Jim

16th July 2005, 05:43 AM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Bill, Extremely nice example of these multiple dagger sets which are indeed Sudanese, and I believe many examples were fashioned in workshops in Omdurman, from about the Mahdist period. These have been suggested to have certain ritual association, however more research is needed to support that. These seem to occur in variations including pairs of daggers joined to Persian maces of the devil or bullhead forms and also covered in either crocodile or monitor lizard hide. From the photos the age and the thuluth suggest end of 19th to early 20th century, but if these were indeed ritual items it would be hard to say, could be later. Interesting pommel form which seems variant and recalls the familiar hilts of the koummya daggers of Morocco, and which of course seem to have diffused throughout North Africa. It seems these really are somewhat unavailable typically, and most examples not as well made as these. All the best, Jim