Sudan, stiletto, T section
 

Visiting a friend today we made a few swaps. Blade 28cm total 42cm, no sign that there was ever a scabbard on the skin around the guard. I am quite pleased with it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Soudan002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Soudan001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Soudan010.jpg

Very nice Tim....looks like a European Dirk.....could it be 19c or earlier....later to be 'Africanised' and acid etched with the script?
Wondering whether this could be from the Mahdist era? Or is my imagination running away with me ....again ;)

hello
I`m not an expert in this area at all :) but maybe it is a combination from european bayonet? I have one indo-persian spear made in this way.
Best
Husar

Yes it is made from a socket type of bayonet. In real life it is quite easy to see the soceket part of the bayonet protruding from the skin at the end of the handle.

NICE dagger :)

Hi Tim, the socket must have been 'straightened out' to be 'inline' with the blade....or cut and re-attached....Here is a picture of a British Martini Enfield pattern 1876/95 Egyptian bayonet. The Martini was the usual issue in Sudan at the time of Gordon. Seems likely to be the donor for your dagger.

This dagger has been made from the top section of the type of bayonet that you post. There is a metal tube that makes the basis for the grip. I can not tell if that is also part of the original bayonet. The tube is filled with a hard black substance formed to a dome at the end of the handle. It appears that some kind of tang has been peened over on top of the dome. I will investigate further tomorrow.

It makes sense that the tube was cut off. If the 'socket' (of the bayonet)was to be bent down ....(so as to be straight to the blade)....it would need high localised heat which would affect the temper of the blade....almost certainly to its detriment.