Afar knife

chregu · 6th November 2011, 07:03 PM

my current fund
Afar knife. Smells like cow! smile
Who knows more about it? grateful for any information.
greeting Chregu

Jim McDougall · 7th November 2011, 06:00 AM

A classic ethnographic piece Chregu!
I'm not sure what you'd like to know about these, but as always I try to find out about the history around the weapon. Clearly it is a modern weapon, but the nomadic tribal Afar (Danakil) people who use these knives which are termed 'gile' are pastoral and herd cattle as well as goats and sheep.

They inhabit the regions in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia bit most known for the Ethiopian region known as the Danakil Depression, a desert known often as the 'cruelest place on earth' for its dramatic and harsh temperatures.
From most of what little is written on these, the blades are typically from car or truck springs and metal files. The men of the tribes of these people are well known for martial prowess, however these knives are utilitarian as well and this weapon seems used so unlikely a 'tourist' item, which is I think too often assigned to modern items still used or worn by many ethnic groups in present times.

"African Arms & Armour" C.Spring, British Museum, 1993, pp.103-105

attached: Afar nomad and in pink, the Afar regions of Ethiopia

Hope this will be of some help

All the best,
Jim

chregu · 8th November 2011, 06:27 PM

hi Jim
Thanks for your help. what do you think about the 50s would have to agree?
many greetings Chregu

Martin Lubojacky · 8th November 2011, 07:25 PM

Hello Chregu,

let me also enter: I think it is hard to say if fifties, sixties or seventies - the pommel and the blade are nicely worn, on the other side the sheath is very well preserved. The most important is it is nice knife made for use by the local people, and definitely not now. And it was worn and used - constantly for years, as you can even smell...

Jim McDougall · 8th November 2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chregu

hi Jim
Thanks for your help. what do you think about the 50s would have to agree?
many greetings Chregu

Thank you Chregu for the response, and absolutely my pleasure. I am grateful for your posting this, there really is not a great deal on them in most literature but they are certainly of use into modern times. I agree with Martin's time assessment, probably in the 60s but a genuinely used piece.

All the very best,
Jim

Mauro · 8th November 2011, 09:42 PM

Hi people, I visited AFAR in february and many people were dressing knives like this and I was looking to find a better and older one but without success in the field. You get better examples in the shops in Addis Ababa but in any case it is quite difficult to export because at the airport they can stop you and prevent to carry with you. At least an old knife. May be a new one is not a problem. For the older one they said is a national heritage !! In any case you can also find many of them in the net. In my opinion the scabbard of this knife is quite well made and look much older than most of the knives I have seen. Apparently the tip of the scabbard is missing. It is usually made of brass. The handle also is quite well worn and the blade looks fresher because it has been deeply cleaned, may be to sell it. I suppose it is older than the '50thies but I do not know much more.

Martin Lubojacky · 8th November 2011, 10:44 PM

Hi Mauro, used Afar type knife or dagger used to be favourite souvenier in Ethiopia in mid 90s. Afars and others used to sell their old knives to Addis´ vendors and they immediately employed new knives. Sheaths did not have always metal tips and I think it also depends on the region, and if Afar, afarised Oromo etc. Even "old" Afar knives, when constantly used, had clean and nearly shiny blades - this is what I saw among Kereyu.

6th November 2011, 07:03 PM	#1
chregu Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: switzerland Posts: 298	Afar knife my current fund Afar knife. Smells like cow! smile Who knows more about it? grateful for any information. greeting Chregu Attached Images

7th November 2011, 06:00 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,937	A classic ethnographic piece Chregu! I'm not sure what you'd like to know about these, but as always I try to find out about the history around the weapon. Clearly it is a modern weapon, but the nomadic tribal Afar (Danakil) people who use these knives which are termed 'gile' are pastoral and herd cattle as well as goats and sheep. They inhabit the regions in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia bit most known for the Ethiopian region known as the Danakil Depression, a desert known often as the 'cruelest place on earth' for its dramatic and harsh temperatures. From most of what little is written on these, the blades are typically from car or truck springs and metal files. The men of the tribes of these people are well known for martial prowess, however these knives are utilitarian as well and this weapon seems used so unlikely a 'tourist' item, which is I think too often assigned to modern items still used or worn by many ethnic groups in present times. "African Arms & Armour" C.Spring, British Museum, 1993, pp.103-105 attached: Afar nomad and in pink, the Afar regions of Ethiopia Hope this will be of some help All the best, Jim Attached Images

8th November 2011, 06:27 PM	#3
chregu Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: switzerland Posts: 298	hi Jim Thanks for your help. what do you think about the 50s would have to agree? many greetings Chregu

8th November 2011, 07:25 PM	#4
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Hello Chregu, let me also enter: I think it is hard to say if fifties, sixties or seventies - the pommel and the blade are nicely worn, on the other side the sheath is very well preserved. The most important is it is nice knife made for use by the local people, and definitely not now. And it was worn and used - constantly for years, as you can even smell...

8th November 2011, 09:42 PM	#6
Mauro Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 83	Hi people, I visited AFAR in february and many people were dressing knives like this and I was looking to find a better and older one but without success in the field. You get better examples in the shops in Addis Ababa but in any case it is quite difficult to export because at the airport they can stop you and prevent to carry with you. At least an old knife. May be a new one is not a problem. For the older one they said is a national heritage !! In any case you can also find many of them in the net. In my opinion the scabbard of this knife is quite well made and look much older than most of the knives I have seen. Apparently the tip of the scabbard is missing. It is usually made of brass. The handle also is quite well worn and the blade looks fresher because it has been deeply cleaned, may be to sell it. I suppose it is older than the '50thies but I do not know much more.

8th November 2011, 10:44 PM	#7
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	Hi Mauro, used Afar type knife or dagger used to be favourite souvenier in Ethiopia in mid 90s. Afars and others used to sell their old knives to Addis´ vendors and they immediately employed new knives. Sheaths did not have always metal tips and I think it also depends on the region, and if Afar, afarised Oromo etc. Even "old" Afar knives, when constantly used, had clean and nearly shiny blades - this is what I saw among Kereyu.