Sudan Dagger ?

Warren McQ · 10th May 2009, 02:46 AM

Hi all,
I just picked this up yesterday, the blade configuration and quality caught my eye. I'd like to know when and where it might have come from, Sudan is my best guess.
Thanks,
Warren in Arizona

ariel · 10th May 2009, 03:45 PM

If you pester Lew hard enough, he may remember a thing or two about similar daggers

Warren McQ · 10th May 2009, 04:16 PM

I would be grateful for any information that Lew might share with me.
It seems that I have become interested in knives that I know very little about. The only thing I have to go on is my 40yrs experience in collecting US military knives for which there is plenty of documentation.
I haven't found a book yet that gives a beginner the information needed to get started in this field of collecting.

If it weren't for this forum I wouldn't know anything about these knives, now I know a little, enough to be dangerous.
Thanks to all,
Warren in Arizona

Lew · 10th May 2009, 05:43 PM

Warren

I saw that one and its real nice with well defined fullers. My guess is pre 1940s. When you get it take a pic of the hilt looking down at the top of the butt I need to see the finale.

Lew

Warren McQ · 10th May 2009, 10:07 PM

Thanks Lew, I'll post some pics as soon as it lands.

Warren in Arizona

roanoa · 11th May 2009, 06:30 PM

Nice blade. Here is one very similar, though it's curved. This dagger is the traditional Hadendoa/Beni-Amer/Beja "X" hilted dagger. So it is surely Sudanese/Eritrean. The construction of your blade is very similar, plus the shape of the hilt suggests Sudan/Ethiopia. Too bad the scabbard is missing.

Warren McQ · 6th June 2009, 08:15 PM

Well, This finally arrived after being shipped to Israel by mistake . It almost made it back to where it was born

I've done some light cleaning and added some pics that Lew asked for.
If you have an idea of the age of this knife I'd be eternally grateful.
Thanks Much,
Warren in (HOT) Arizona

Emanuel · 6th June 2009, 10:00 PM

That's a sexy blade Warren

Early 1900s seems plausible.

Warren McQ · 7th June 2009, 12:59 AM

Thanks Very Much, I wasn't disappointed at all when I finally had it in my hands.
The only thing I could wish for would have been it being signed like yours.
The workmanship on these knives is incredible.
I have some beautifully forged Kukries from the same era and they are not as well executed as this knife.
I can't wait to find some more of these knives.

Warren in Arizona

Lew · 7th June 2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manolo

That's a sexy blade Warren

Early 1900s seems plausible.

Manolo

The hilt doesn't have a smooth patina file marks still evident on the wood probably 1940s era. Still an excellent example .

Congrats

Warren McQ · 7th June 2009, 06:38 PM

Thanks Lew,
Could you tell me the specific points to look for in an old knife of this type ??
I really do want to give some of these knives a good home and I'd like to be able to tell my Great Grand Children just what they are inheriting

Thanks Again,
Warren in Arizona

Lew · 7th June 2009, 10:12 PM

Warren

Patina overall quality,scabbard constuction/style and materials. Below are a grouping from my collection. Second from left,center and second from right are 1930s-40s. 19th century daggers usually have heavier better quality silver or some have small coins (PIASTRES) at the end of the pommel. Also many old ones are marked with a date most from 1890-1900.

colin henshaw · 10th June 2009, 05:02 PM

Hi

Here's my contribution - got this recently. That "circle and dot" motif seems to get everywhere.

Regards

Lew · 10th June 2009, 05:11 PM

Colin

Can we see the blade please?

colin henshaw · 10th June 2009, 05:49 PM

Here it is, needs a bit of cleaning. Also a picture of the handle from the side.

Regards
Colin

10th May 2009, 02:46 AM	#1
Warren McQ Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 40	Sudan Dagger ? Hi all, I just picked this up yesterday, the blade configuration and quality caught my eye. I'd like to know when and where it might have come from, Sudan is my best guess. Thanks, Warren in Arizona Attached Images

10th May 2009, 05:43 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Warren I saw that one and its real nice with well defined fullers. My guess is pre 1940s. When you get it take a pic of the hilt looking down at the top of the butt I need to see the finale. Lew Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 10th May 2009 at 10:25 PM.

11th May 2009, 06:30 PM	#6
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 232	Nice blade. Here is one very similar, though it's curved. This dagger is the traditional Hadendoa/Beni-Amer/Beja "X" hilted dagger. So it is surely Sudanese/Eritrean. The construction of your blade is very similar, plus the shape of the hilt suggests Sudan/Ethiopia. Too bad the scabbard is missing. Attached Images

6th June 2009, 08:15 PM	#7
Warren McQ Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 40	Well, This finally arrived after being shipped to Israel by mistake . It almost made it back to where it was born I've done some light cleaning and added some pics that Lew asked for. If you have an idea of the age of this knife I'd be eternally grateful. Thanks Much, Warren in (HOT) Arizona Attached Images

7th June 2009, 10:12 PM	#12
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Warren Patina overall quality,scabbard constuction/style and materials. Below are a grouping from my collection. Second from left,center and second from right are 1930s-40s. 19th century daggers usually have heavier better quality silver or some have small coins (PIASTRES) at the end of the pommel. Also many old ones are marked with a date most from 1890-1900. Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 7th June 2009 at 10:26 PM.

10th May 2009, 03:45 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	If you pester Lew hard enough, he may remember a thing or two about similar daggers

10th May 2009, 04:16 PM	#3
Warren McQ Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 40	I would be grateful for any information that Lew might share with me. It seems that I have become interested in knives that I know very little about. The only thing I have to go on is my 40yrs experience in collecting US military knives for which there is plenty of documentation. I haven't found a book yet that gives a beginner the information needed to get started in this field of collecting. If it weren't for this forum I wouldn't know anything about these knives, now I know a little, enough to be dangerous. Thanks to all, Warren in Arizona

10th May 2009, 10:07 PM	#5
Warren McQ Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 40	Thanks Lew, I'll post some pics as soon as it lands. Warren in Arizona

6th June 2009, 10:00 PM	#8
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	That's a sexy blade Warren Early 1900s seems plausible.

7th June 2009, 12:59 AM	#9
Warren McQ Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 40	Thanks Very Much, I wasn't disappointed at all when I finally had it in my hands. The only thing I could wish for would have been it being signed like yours. The workmanship on these knives is incredible. I have some beautifully forged Kukries from the same era and they are not as well executed as this knife. I can't wait to find some more of these knives. Warren in Arizona

7th June 2009, 06:38 PM	#11
Warren McQ Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 40	Thanks Lew, Could you tell me the specific points to look for in an old knife of this type ?? I really do want to give some of these knives a good home and I'd like to be able to tell my Great Grand Children just what they are inheriting Thanks Again, Warren in Arizona

10th June 2009, 05:02 PM	#13
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Hi Here's my contribution - got this recently. That "circle and dot" motif seems to get everywhere. Regards Attached Images

10th June 2009, 05:11 PM	#14
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Colin Can we see the blade please?

10th June 2009, 05:49 PM	#15
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Here it is, needs a bit of cleaning. Also a picture of the handle from the side. Regards Colin Attached Images