Billao for comment

Claus · 22nd February 2014, 11:10 PM

Hello,
as a newbie in Ethnographic Weapons i'm interested in your opinions about this dagger. It was sold as an "Antique Dagger, approx. 1930, forged Blade".
Forged blade ? Looks like grinded flat steel.
The handle is made of brass and horn/bone in octagonal shape. The pommel is peened with the blade.
I removed the verdigris carefully and let the blade untouched.
Blade lenght is 18cm
Overall lenght is 31cm
The scabbard is made of brown leather, simillar to items I found on my research in this forum and the internet.
Two things made me wonder.
The unusual pommel and the fuller with the blued triangles.
I dont see this on any other pics of billaos.
After a bit of research I would classify the dagger as somalia billao, middle to late 20th century.
Is my opinion about this dagger correct ?
Tourist piece or real tool?
Thank you for your help

22nd February 2014, 11:10 PM	#1
Claus Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 8	Billao for comment Hello, as a newbie in Ethnographic Weapons i'm interested in your opinions about this dagger. It was sold as an "Antique Dagger, approx. 1930, forged Blade". Forged blade ? Looks like grinded flat steel. The handle is made of brass and horn/bone in octagonal shape. The pommel is peened with the blade. I removed the verdigris carefully and let the blade untouched. Blade lenght is 18cm Overall lenght is 31cm The scabbard is made of brown leather, simillar to items I found on my research in this forum and the internet. Two things made me wonder. The unusual pommel and the fuller with the blued triangles. I dont see this on any other pics of billaos. After a bit of research I would classify the dagger as somalia billao, middle to late 20th century. Is my opinion about this dagger correct ? Tourist piece or real tool? Thank you for your help Attached Images