AFRICAN LOOP DAGGER , Tiv, for comment

katana · 1st July 2007, 02:03 PM

At last ....I have 'secured' a loop dagger. The seller informs me it is 80-90 years old. Blade is 'shallow' diamond (in cross section) and is 7.5 " long,

Looks authentic, has anyone got any information about this type of dagger....or comments on this particular one ?

Thank you
David

Lew · 1st July 2007, 02:13 PM

Katana

That is a nice Tiv dagger you picked up. I like this type of blade shape it is more of a real get down to business style than the more wasp shape ones we often see with the thin needle like tips both are nice but I just like the broader tip ones better for over all stength. As for age it's hard to tell on these but I would think it would date from any where between 1900-1950. here is one from my collection which much like yours. I have added one with the needle like tip from Artzi's site as a comparison.

Lew

katana · 1st July 2007, 02:41 PM

Hi Lew,
thank you. Seems that the dagger's age is fairly consistant with the sellers claims

I also noticed the decoration around the loop is very similar on all the examples posted. ( your nice example, which I believe you posted before, is the reason why 'I wanted one', in the first place)
I've only got the sellers pics at present, will post better ones when it arrives.

How are these daggers held? I assume that these were stabbing weapons, rather than 'slashing'. I cannot find much info on the 'Tiv', all I know is they are from the Nigerian area.

Lew · 1st July 2007, 03:04 PM

I have big hands so only three fingers fit in the loop. I guess it is held in either the ice pick position for a downward stab or in the hammer position for a straight or upward stab.

Lew

paolo · 1st July 2007, 08:33 PM

Hi all,
I send some pics of my one bought by Artzi. The blade, of different kind, is forged in one piece with the loop, that has similar decoration. I don't know its age.
Regards
Paolo

Bill M · 2nd July 2007, 03:11 AM

The Tiv are an interesting culture not a lot of people collect there. I thought that the members might like to see something else from the TiV -- Provenace Charles Jones and Lew Deadmore.

about 20" tall. A powerful woman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiv

I find West and Central Afirca the most interesting of the African peoples.

1st July 2007, 02:03 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	AFRICAN LOOP DAGGER , Tiv, for comment At last ....I have 'secured' a loop dagger. The seller informs me it is 80-90 years old. Blade is 'shallow' diamond (in cross section) and is 7.5 " long, Looks authentic, has anyone got any information about this type of dagger....or comments on this particular one ? Thank you David Attached Images

1st July 2007, 02:13 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Katana That is a nice Tiv dagger you picked up. I like this type of blade shape it is more of a real get down to business style than the more wasp shape ones we often see with the thin needle like tips both are nice but I just like the broader tip ones better for over all stength. As for age it's hard to tell on these but I would think it would date from any where between 1900-1950. here is one from my collection which much like yours. I have added one with the needle like tip from Artzi's site as a comparison. Lew Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 1st July 2007 at 02:30 PM.

1st July 2007, 08:33 PM	#5
paolo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 173	Hi all, I send some pics of my one bought by Artzi. The blade, of different kind, is forged in one piece with the loop, that has similar decoration. I don't know its age. Regards Paolo Attached Images

2nd July 2007, 03:11 AM	#6
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	The Tiv are an interesting culture not a lot of people collect there. I thought that the members might like to see something else from the TiV -- Provenace Charles Jones and Lew Deadmore. about 20" tall. A powerful woman. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiv I find West and Central Afirca the most interesting of the African peoples. Attached Images

1st July 2007, 02:41 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Lew, thank you. Seems that the dagger's age is fairly consistant with the sellers claims I also noticed the decoration around the loop is very similar on all the examples posted. ( your nice example, which I believe you posted before, is the reason why 'I wanted one', in the first place) I've only got the sellers pics at present, will post better ones when it arrives. How are these daggers held? I assume that these were stabbing weapons, rather than 'slashing'. I cannot find much info on the 'Tiv', all I know is they are from the Nigerian area.

1st July 2007, 03:04 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I have big hands so only three fingers fit in the loop. I guess it is held in either the ice pick position for a downward stab or in the hammer position for a straight or upward stab. Lew