North African??? Dagger for ID

[kahnjar1]

I have had this dagger for quite some time but have never had a conclusive ID for it. The blade is similar to Moroccan Koummya blades in as much as it has the typical 1/3 - 2/3 opposed edging. The rest however is not like any Moroccan dagger I have seen before.
Any help in ID would be appreciated.
Stu

[kahnjar1]

No ideas Gentlemen??

[colin henshaw]

Stu, it seems to be a cross-cultural piece... the blade and sheath from a Moroccan dagger and the hilt in the form of a dagger from Northern Cameroon or Bornu areas. Maybe an old or damaged koummya was traded across the Sahara ?

[kahnjar1]

Hi Colin,
I do not think the sheath is from a Koummya as it is not the general shape of them. It more or less tapers from the throat to the tip rather than being curved like the usual Koummya scabbard. Certainly the blade could well have been originally from the Koummya.
I seem to remember that when I bought it quite a long while ago it was suggested that it was of Taureg origin. Not sure about that but I do think that it is very likely of Sub Saharan origin.
Stu

[colin henshaw]

The sheath is a bit like that to be found on the Moroccan sword "s'boula", with those thin brass hanging rings and raised transverse bands. On the other hand, it must be said the incised designs to Stu's dagger sheath use motifs to be found on Tuareg adornment (silver pendants etc).