North African??? Dagger for ID

kahnjar1 · 10th March 2022, 12:45 AM

I have had this dagger for quite some time but have never had a conclusive ID for it. The blade is similar to Moroccan Koummya blades in as much as it has the typical 1/3 - 2/3 opposed edging. The rest however is not like any Moroccan dagger I have seen before.
Any help in ID would be appreciated.
Stu

kahnjar1 · 12th March 2022, 07:02 AM

No ideas Gentlemen??

colin henshaw · 12th March 2022, 08:22 AM

Stu, it seems to be a cross-cultural piece... the blade and sheath from a Moroccan dagger and the hilt in the form of a dagger from Northern Cameroon or Bornu areas. Maybe an old or damaged koummya was traded across the Sahara ?

kahnjar1 · 12th March 2022, 09:03 AM

Hi Colin,
I do not think the sheath is from a Koummya as it is not the general shape of them. It more or less tapers from the throat to the tip rather than being curved like the usual Koummya scabbard. Certainly the blade could well have been originally from the Koummya.
I seem to remember that when I bought it quite a long while ago it was suggested that it was of Taureg origin. Not sure about that but I do think that it is very likely of Sub Saharan origin.
Stu

colin henshaw · 12th March 2022, 02:22 PM

The sheath is a bit like that to be found on the Moroccan sword "s'boula", with those thin brass hanging rings and raised transverse bands. On the other hand, it must be said the incised designs to Stu's dagger sheath use motifs to be found on Tuareg adornment (silver pendants etc).

10th March 2022, 12:45 AM	#1
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,811	North African??? Dagger for ID I have had this dagger for quite some time but have never had a conclusive ID for it. The blade is similar to Moroccan Koummya blades in as much as it has the typical 1/3 - 2/3 opposed edging. The rest however is not like any Moroccan dagger I have seen before. Any help in ID would be appreciated. Stu Attached Images

12th March 2022, 02:22 PM	#5
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	The sheath is a bit like that to be found on the Moroccan sword "s'boula", with those thin brass hanging rings and raised transverse bands. On the other hand, it must be said the incised designs to Stu's dagger sheath use motifs to be found on Tuareg adornment (silver pendants etc). Attached Images

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12th March 2022, 07:02 AM	#2
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,811	No ideas Gentlemen??

12th March 2022, 08:22 AM	#3
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Stu, it seems to be a cross-cultural piece... the blade and sheath from a Moroccan dagger and the hilt in the form of a dagger from Northern Cameroon or Bornu areas. Maybe an old or damaged koummya was traded across the Sahara ?

12th March 2022, 09:03 AM	#4
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,811	Hi Colin, I do not think the sheath is from a Koummya as it is not the general shape of them. It more or less tapers from the throat to the tip rather than being curved like the usual Koummya scabbard. Certainly the blade could well have been originally from the Koummya. I seem to remember that when I bought it quite a long while ago it was suggested that it was of Taureg origin. Not sure about that but I do think that it is very likely of Sub Saharan origin. Stu