An interesting african knife with inscription
 

Hi all !


Found and cleaned yesterday, this little knife has some interesting history attached to it !


Obviously West African, looking at the Quai Branly collection, I'm tempted to narrow it down to Guinea (https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/234985-couteau-et-gaine


https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...rd-et-fourreau



https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...223316-couteau



https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...au-et-fourreau)


Surprisingly, the pommel cap is made from a cartridge. Thanks to the markings on the rim, I was able to identify it, and it is a "balle D" 8mm mle 1896 for the French Lebel rifle (http://www.armeetpassion.com/8%20lebel-1.html).


The other unexpected element is the inscription on the blade "Souvenir de Massa Kohibogui" (Keepsake of Massa Kohibogui). The script is typical of the early 20th century. I had a hard time finding anything about this inscription, but finally I did found Massa Koibogui, a corporal from the Tirailleurs Sénégalais in Guinea, mentioned in the "Journal Officiel de la Guinée Française" in 1925 !


I'm almost certain that they are the same person : time frame, location, and the use of a french cartridge all points towards it. (And I did not find any homonym)



I honestly find it pretty amazing that an object like this could be linked to one identifiable person almost 100 years later !

Impressive investigative work, Yvain. Good job!

It is indeed rare to find an item that can be attributed to a particular person with any degree of certainty. I am even more impressed about your ability to research the items in your collection, and your overall contributions to enhancing our knowledge of West African knives and daggers.

Thanks to both of you!

Hi Yvain


Always cool to link an object to a person, well done.


Regards
Marc

Very good research work! :cool:

Nice research work! It is an interesting discovery