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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 6
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Hello!
As a knife and blades collector I'm a fan of this forum. Until now I have found all my answers from earlier topics, but recently I have got as a gift one Koummya dagger that I can not read. The scabbard seems like a fine craftsmanship, but I could not find any silversmiths markings/hallmarks on it. The scabbard is made of thick silver and has no wooden inserts to support the blade, but the blade fits snug and has no rattle. The blade itself has a bird or butterfly mark on it that I have not seen before. So specialists if you would, please give me your opinion on this blade - a real deal or a tourists piece? |
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#2 |
EAAF Staff
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Upstate New York, USA
Posts: 909
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I think this is the 'real deal' intended for local wear and use and not a tourist special. It does not appear to be of the highest order of craftsmanship, but does appear to be respectable handmade work, and maybe is not as old as some we see in these pages. I have not seen that blade mark before.
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 424
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I'd agree with Lee.
Perhaps the craftsmanship of the silver work is not extremely fine, but it makes up for that with bold and handsome design. Guessing mid-20th century. I wouldn't mind at all having it in my collection. |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,715
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Sorry, I disagree.
![]() Regards, Detlef PS: Forget, I don't think that the scabbard is from silver, have you tested it? I guess it's german silver. |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: France
Posts: 176
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Could it be an older blade in new mounts ? I thought it was done frequently in North Africa, and the blade does look older than the rest in my opinion.
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#6 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 6
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![]() Quote:
![]() The French gentleman who gave it to me as a gift is a genuine world traveller and a fierce collector. From every part of the world he brings back several blades from antique shops and local collectors. He has specialized on Ottoman era mainly, but has dozens of blades from all over the world. He had 2 koummya from the travels and that is one of them. The other one looked a like, but had several markings on the scabbard (but non on the blade) This one has marking on the blade, but not on the scabbard ![]() |
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#7 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,715
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![]() Quote:
German silver isn't magnetic, see here for German silver: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_silver Nickel is magnetic but the percentage from around 20% is too low to let become the alloy magnetic. I am not firm enough with Moroccan culture and until which time koummyas were worn but guess that it would be around the middle of 20th century. I have a similar worked example like yours and it's for sure not from silver and the colour in your pictures let me doubt that yours could be from silver. A silver test is cheap, you can order the liquid online. Test it to get sure. I am far away to be an expert for koummyas but have handled several pieces in my collector time. There are members who are very more knowledgeable, hope they will join in. Regards, Detlef |
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