Show us your khodmi/Bou Saadi knife

[fennec]

some more classic ones from mine

[fennec]

Others are what I call "saharian mouss" (knife, just another word as khodmi, just to make difference in my book, nothing official), that are usually from a widest area in the desert, even used by some tourag or close to people (I mean some people from those area, tamaghasset, Djanet, Ouargla, Hoggar, but not necessary from touareg comunities, that usally have their own style telek/gozma knives).

Well, every time I tell myself "stop sharing what is supposed to be in your book", I remember that is still A LOT of secrets I've discovered (and still every day.. really) on those blades, as the meaning of some engravings, and for that mates, you will have to wait a little...haha

PS.. dear Detlef, could I ask you later for some pictures of yours for my book? I would be honored to display them in it !

Peace my friends, and thanks again for the help a lot of you gave me !!

[fennec]

ps.. ps...
I'm actually a blacksmith, that always forgot to share my work, never sell anything, and still wonder why I'm poor
So here is some of mines.. I mean, Ive forged (full ancient way, charcoil forge, no power tools.. but with some personnal add, like a differential quenching Ive took from my first love, the nihonto.. yeah, I actually begon with japanese swords, then turn myself into my ancestors work those last years).

first ones was my real first try to a bousaadi series (2/3 years ago). due to a very hard steel I've choose, to have a better "hamon" (quenching line), Ive dont make the "very thin" cold hammered cutting edged, that would be too muck brittle on those ones. Many personnal add, like rayskin for one, or eggshells for another.

[fennec]

And finally, those ones are more recent, as Ive begon to be more precise with inlay work, but also differential quench on many kind of steel (in water too haha, let forge in fire people cry about that ..hahaha). Know I try to stick more to the tradi work, but still with a bit of modern touch.

First one was for my sister, so a bit different. The second one, for an algerian friend, Ive tried to symbolize "algerian mountains" on the hamon.

The last one is the last one (some month ago) with all modesty, my best work in that kind. It was for a very known and respected collector and specialist, and member of the forum, that helped me a lot for my quest, and that I really consider as a friend now (thanks again to him, and even, his precious work).

[TVV]

fennec, we were all hoping you would comment to provide the kind of local perspective only you can. Thank you for your posts, I have learned a lot from this thread.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by TVV

fennec, we were all hoping you would comment to provide the kind of local perspective only you can. Thank you for your posts, I have learned a lot from this thread.

Agreed Theo! Still hope to see more examples of our members!

[Lee]

Lew Waldman had two of these, both apparently with a date:

http://vikingsword.com/lew/w0004/w0004.html

http://vikingsword.com/lew/w1119/w1119.html

[fennec]

Originally Posted by TVV

fennec, we were all hoping you would comment to provide the kind of local perspective only you can. Thank you for your posts, I have learned a lot from this thread.

All the pleasure is for me (well, Idk if its an english expression, so better that way "tout le plaisir est pour moi " ).
Really. Sharing my few knowledge, and, some personnal views about those objects is a real honor for me, especially with so serious collectors I've met here.

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hi Mate! I came across the khodmi with the bone handle by the German ebay and after I received it and was very pleased with it after a little bit care and I thought that it's a good idea to start this thread and hoped you would join in!
Detlef

haha do I mention that I've also buy some those last days (just to add some more pictures to that book haha).. so that tread is only beginning !! Very good idea btw, may be have to start one about flissas one !!

Oh yeah I havent understand that you was talking only about those one handles. This is absolutely possible, as, you can probably (actually, for sure, but I dont know if its the case for those ones) find some variations in the styles, depending on the area of craft. As Ive said before, the "bousaadi knife" is actually just a name, for a kind of knives (that are probably originated from bousaada..), that are made in a very big area, not to say, all algeria (actually, a blacksmith from the west or the east, could have learn the craft in bousaada, then modify it). So those bones ones, could be from another place.
Another theory I have, is the willing of making another object itself. As for many algerian work, you can find variations, depending on the "model" of sword made, even by the same blacksmith family. The better exemples are flissa, you will never (never say never in weaponery..haha) find a curved flissa, with the decorative scheme of a straight one. Same for the handles, that are usually shaped differently, for a curved one (bird like head is the more common), even when the work is the same as for a straight one (brass covered handles.. not talking about tourists/wedding wooden ones).
Same case for the boussada work. Note the knife I've shown, that look or is a rasor, the one with a horn handle, covered with a metal sheet. Those ones, because ive seen some, are always made that way (without the metal sheet), with the exact same deco.. like if its another kind of tool/object.
So may be its another way to understand why some have one, or two pins.
Or.. may be is only late models (I dont think so.. the squares on those ones are herited, if its not from the ottoman, it is from this era. Also very used on tunisian/berbern weaponery), that changed the main default of those knives, the possibe "rolling" of the blade... Who knows.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by fennec

And finally, those ones are more recent, as Ive begon to be more precise with inlay work, but also differential quench on many kind of steel (in water too haha, let forge in fire people cry about that ..hahaha). Know I try to stick more to the tradi work, but still with a bit of modern touch.

First one was for my sister, so a bit different. The second one, for an algerian friend, Ive tried to symbolize "algerian mountains" on the hamon.

The last one is the last one (some month ago) with all modesty, my best work in that kind. It was for a very known and respected collector and specialist, and member of the forum, that helped me a lot for my quest, and that I really consider as a friend now (thanks again to him, and even, his precious work).

Beautiful work my friend!

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by fennec

PS.. dear Detlef, could I ask you later for some pictures of yours for my book? I would be honored to display them in it!

It would be a great honor for me if my pieces were featured in your book!

[fennec]

Originally Posted by Sajen

It would be a great honor for me if my pieces were featured in your book!

All the honor is for me my dear friend, really ! I mean, changing what was a personnal quest, into a common work, with other passionate ones, is really motivating !
For many reasons, some personnal, some in direct relation with the book, that project was a bit crazy, and probably, not made for me (am I the most qualified ? am I legitimate ? am I... etc... and what was supposed to be a "simple" listing of algerian weapons, close to E.Claude work, with some add, is now a half historical, half blacksmith view, half collectors book, some like a monster of 400pages for the moment, and still have to add many pictures... so probably unsellable but however not making it for money ).

Many times I was about to stop it, then I have a discussion with a person like you, and I say to myself "naaaah, I have to finish"
I have so many "secrets" to share with you my friends, and every line I wrote, I think about the people of this forum, the reaction and critics they would have, and this is also very motivating, so again, I really want to thank everyone here who helped in that way.