Sudan Mahdist daggers

colin henshaw · 8th July 2013, 01:37 PM

Hi

To move the discussion along a bit - I had always thought of these Sudanese knives with crooked or dog-leg blades, as being used only by Beja tribes from the Red Sea Hills. However, reading up on the Battle of Abu Klea, it seems Beja warriors were not present, and that the Mahdist forces were comprised mainly of tribes from Kordofan and others from the Nile Valley area. So bearing in mind Edster's observation about the hilt on my dagger, not being the Beja "double C", perhaps the crooked type of dagger form was used more widely in the Sudan than previously thought.

There is also my earlier theory put forward about derivation from the Ancient Egyptian sword "khepesh" to bear in mind...

Has anyone further ideas on this topic ?

Regards.

Jim McDougall · 8th July 2013, 09:42 PM

These 'dog leg' blades have been discussed quite a few times over the years.
Very much agreed Charles, Lew is deeply missed and especially in the daggers field where his knowledge was outstanding.

I agree that this blade shape certainly comes from earlier periods and agree also that the profound influence of Egyptian forms seems to have survived in these type blades as well as other African weapons, as suggested by Colin.

It is interesting that these examples however, seem to be mounted in the simple hilt form similar to Ethiopian 'shotels' and in varying degree with numerous other African hilt forms rather than the 'reversed C' pattern that is
usually seen on these. While this does not dismiss the possibility of these blades having been mounted as is during these campaigns, it does make the attribution to Abu Klea a bit more tenuous.
I am inclined to think that with the thriving souvenier trade, perhaps these authentic blades were mounted during the post campaign occupation and commemoratively inscribed.

As for the tribal attribution for these distinctly shaped and angled blades, it would be extremely difficult to provenance them given the diffusion of these forms intertribally. Generally the Beja attribution may apply collectively as they seem to have been used by various tribes of this group, many who were indeed in campaigns in those times.

On a side note regarding these reversed C hilts, does anyone else think they have a certain similarity to the Indian chilanum, the open hilt type of 'anthromorphic' form rather than knuckleguard type?

8th July 2013, 01:37 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Hi To move the discussion along a bit - I had always thought of these Sudanese knives with crooked or dog-leg blades, as being used only by Beja tribes from the Red Sea Hills. However, reading up on the Battle of Abu Klea, it seems Beja warriors were not present, and that the Mahdist forces were comprised mainly of tribes from Kordofan and others from the Nile Valley area. So bearing in mind Edster's observation about the hilt on my dagger, not being the Beja "double C", perhaps the crooked type of dagger form was used more widely in the Sudan than previously thought. There is also my earlier theory put forward about derivation from the Ancient Egyptian sword "khepesh" to bear in mind... Has anyone further ideas on this topic ? Regards.

8th July 2013, 09:42 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	These 'dog leg' blades have been discussed quite a few times over the years. Very much agreed Charles, Lew is deeply missed and especially in the daggers field where his knowledge was outstanding. I agree that this blade shape certainly comes from earlier periods and agree also that the profound influence of Egyptian forms seems to have survived in these type blades as well as other African weapons, as suggested by Colin. It is interesting that these examples however, seem to be mounted in the simple hilt form similar to Ethiopian 'shotels' and in varying degree with numerous other African hilt forms rather than the 'reversed C' pattern that is usually seen on these. While this does not dismiss the possibility of these blades having been mounted as is during these campaigns, it does make the attribution to Abu Klea a bit more tenuous. I am inclined to think that with the thriving souvenier trade, perhaps these authentic blades were mounted during the post campaign occupation and commemoratively inscribed. As for the tribal attribution for these distinctly shaped and angled blades, it would be extremely difficult to provenance them given the diffusion of these forms intertribally. Generally the Beja attribution may apply collectively as they seem to have been used by various tribes of this group, many who were indeed in campaigns in those times. On a side note regarding these reversed C hilts, does anyone else think they have a certain similarity to the Indian chilanum, the open hilt type of 'anthromorphic' form rather than knuckleguard type?