Help with Algerian? dagger

Ron0909 · 6th September 2005, 02:11 AM

Hi everyone

I came accross this wonderful forum in search of information on a particular dagger that was given to me years ago by my Grandfather. My Grandfather was with French occupying forces in Algeria in the 1950's as an army baker. The story behind this one is that every day, the French would search the local's living area for weapons while they toiled in the bakery. Their logic was that if they could get to the weapons, there might be one less Frenchman hurt or worse that night. He also mentioned that the studs on the hilt supposedly represented 'kills' but maybe this was just fantasy. I'd appreciate any comments on the dagger you might have! Were the blades something that would be recycled with new handles added over time?
Measurement from butt to tip is 9.5 inches
Blade length is 5.75 inches

All my best!
Ron

Aurangzeb · 6th September 2005, 04:56 AM

Hello Ron!

The knife you have here is called a khodmi or mous. They mainly come from Morocco but also come from Algeria due to tribal nomads and and culteral diffusion. I have one of these from the Algeria-Morocco border combining aspects of both nations. To anwser your question about he blade, yes blades were reused overtime, but yours apperars to be all origenal. Maybe anouther forum member chould contribute more. About the kills I don't know. The fact that yours has a history to Algeria should add a 'spark' to the old argument of Algeria or Morocco.

Mark...
Here are some links the first link shows my khodmi at top.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=khodmi

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=khodme

Ron0909 · 6th September 2005, 05:48 AM

Mark,
Thank-you so much! I'ts great to know it's all original and that it 'might' create a spark :) Here's a pic of another one given by my Grandfather. As I recall, according to him, this was a tourist piece of the time. The blade is thinner and longer and doesn't have the weight and edge as the first. Any estimates as to the age of the first mous?

Aurangzeb · 6th September 2005, 06:02 AM

Hello Ron!

The second one you show is similer to mine but witha wood sheath and seems to be missing a crossguard. The first one I whould say early to mid 20th. century. The second one might not be a tourist pice because I know long thin blades where populer with certain berber groups. Keep in mind that tese are peasant knives and made out of what is avalable. Knives with histories are very nice, I have a small knife from Brunei brought bake by my grandfather in 1974.

Mark...

Ron0909 · 6th September 2005, 10:45 PM

Mark,

Aren't grandfathers the greatest! I wish mine was still alive to tell me more
about his adventures. The same man was actually conscripted by the Germans
during the 2nd world war. He was living in the Alsace area, very close to Strasbourg which, is a stone's throw accross the Rhine to Germany. Now I'm getting way off topic

Unfortunately, times are tough here and I'm looking to part with these daggers. It kills me to do it but.... What might the pair of them
be worth?

All the best

Ron

Aurangzeb · 7th September 2005, 01:23 AM

Hello Ron!

I got mine for $30 which is what I whould say the bottom one is about. the first one I dont't know but I may be interested in these givin a reasonable price...

Mark...

6th September 2005, 02:11 AM	#1
Ron0909 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5	Help with Algerian? dagger Hi everyone I came accross this wonderful forum in search of information on a particular dagger that was given to me years ago by my Grandfather. My Grandfather was with French occupying forces in Algeria in the 1950's as an army baker. The story behind this one is that every day, the French would search the local's living area for weapons while they toiled in the bakery. Their logic was that if they could get to the weapons, there might be one less Frenchman hurt or worse that night. He also mentioned that the studs on the hilt supposedly represented 'kills' but maybe this was just fantasy. I'd appreciate any comments on the dagger you might have! Were the blades something that would be recycled with new handles added over time? Measurement from butt to tip is 9.5 inches Blade length is 5.75 inches All my best! Ron Last edited by Ron0909; 6th September 2005 at 02:40 AM.

6th September 2005, 04:56 AM	#2
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello Ron! The knife you have here is called a khodmi or mous. They mainly come from Morocco but also come from Algeria due to tribal nomads and and culteral diffusion. I have one of these from the Algeria-Morocco border combining aspects of both nations. To anwser your question about he blade, yes blades were reused overtime, but yours apperars to be all origenal. Maybe anouther forum member chould contribute more. About the kills I don't know. The fact that yours has a history to Algeria should add a 'spark' to the old argument of Algeria or Morocco. Mark... Here are some links the first link shows my khodmi at top. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=khodmi http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=khodme

6th September 2005, 05:48 AM	#3
Ron0909 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5	Mark, Thank-you so much! I'ts great to know it's all original and that it 'might' create a spark :) Here's a pic of another one given by my Grandfather. As I recall, according to him, this was a tourist piece of the time. The blade is thinner and longer and doesn't have the weight and edge as the first. Any estimates as to the age of the first mous?

6th September 2005, 06:02 AM	#4
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello Ron! The second one you show is similer to mine but witha wood sheath and seems to be missing a crossguard. The first one I whould say early to mid 20th. century. The second one might not be a tourist pice because I know long thin blades where populer with certain berber groups. Keep in mind that tese are peasant knives and made out of what is avalable. Knives with histories are very nice, I have a small knife from Brunei brought bake by my grandfather in 1974. Mark...

6th September 2005, 10:45 PM	#5
Ron0909 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5	Mark, Aren't grandfathers the greatest! I wish mine was still alive to tell me more about his adventures. The same man was actually conscripted by the Germans during the 2nd world war. He was living in the Alsace area, very close to Strasbourg which, is a stone's throw accross the Rhine to Germany. Now I'm getting way off topic Unfortunately, times are tough here and I'm looking to part with these daggers. It kills me to do it but.... What might the pair of them be worth? All the best Ron

7th September 2005, 01:23 AM	#6
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello Ron! I got mine for $30 which is what I whould say the bottom one is about. the first one I dont't know but I may be interested in these givin a reasonable price... Mark...