Where have I seen this African Dagger Before?

drac2k · 30th June 2021, 08:41 PM

I can not quite seem to find this dagger, but I know I have seen it before; can anyone advise me to its origin?

Marc M. · 1st July 2021, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

I can not quite seem to find this dagger, but I know I have seen it before; can anyone advise me to its origin?

hi
In African weapons by Fischer and Zirngibl it's attributed to the Lege in the north east of Congo.
I dodelijk mooi, weapons from Central Africa it's attributed to the Mabendi in the north east of Congo.
Same region, different tribes. The knife sheath is the same as yours, but knife handle is different.
Fischer's book is't without errors.
best regards
Marc

drac2k · 2nd July 2021, 03:45 AM

Thanks, Marc, this one was driving me a little bit crazy.

TomHurstAntiques · 5th July 2021, 04:13 PM

This Seems to be a Konda knife in a Mabendi sheath. Curious.

drac2k · 7th July 2021, 04:48 PM

The knife and the sheath fit like a glove; I don't think that the two are a marriage of convenience, but rather the knife was made for the sheath or the sheath was made for the knife.

Duccio · 9th July 2021, 08:24 PM

Drac2k, if you say that the sheath and the knife are made for each other, I have no reason to contradict you, but I must say that on the one hand the sheath is unequivocally Mabendi (all the characteristics of the Mabendi are present, which are also extremely particular and unique), while the knife is completely different from the Mabendi knives that are documented ... The blade resembles those of the Lobala or Monzombo knives, the handle is still different ... But African knives often escape the rigid classification that they like so much to we westerners!
In any case, congratulations, the knife is very beautiful and interesting!

drac2k · 10th July 2021, 04:05 AM

On the contrary, I wasn't doubting your comments on the different African regions you ascribed the knife and the sheath to belong to and I believe you when you state that the knife and the scabbard were not made by the same people. The point I was making was that the fit was so good that either the knife was made for the sheath or the sheath was made for the knife by two different groups of people; they just utilized what they traded for, found, or captured.
Thank you for your comments and keen insight.

Pieje · 11th July 2021, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomHurstAntiques

This Seems to be a Konda knife in a Mabendi sheath. Curious.

Agree.

Mambisa/Mabendi sheat; those knives are hard to find,
a complete knife should look like this.
(Ratzel 1895; Wolf-Dieter Miersch collection; and 2 examples found on the net)

The Konda knife is a-typical and might have been made to fit the scabbard. Nice little knife.

drac2k · 11th July 2021, 05:55 AM

Thanks for the pictures. The sheath has a very substantial and well-made spearpoint tip, vastly beyond ornamental; was it made as a secondary weapon or to be used in conjunction with the knife in fighting? Possibly as a picket post for a horse or livestock?

30th June 2021, 08:41 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,231	Where have I seen this African Dagger Before? I can not quite seem to find this dagger, but I know I have seen it before; can anyone advise me to its origin? Attached Images

2nd July 2021, 03:45 AM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,231	Thanks, Marc, this one was driving me a little bit crazy.

5th July 2021, 04:13 PM	#4
TomHurstAntiques Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Dorset Posts: 38	This Seems to be a Konda knife in a Mabendi sheath. Curious.

7th July 2021, 04:48 PM	#5
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,231	The knife and the sheath fit like a glove; I don't think that the two are a marriage of convenience, but rather the knife was made for the sheath or the sheath was made for the knife.

9th July 2021, 08:24 PM	#6
Duccio Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Florence, Italy Posts: 64	Drac2k, if you say that the sheath and the knife are made for each other, I have no reason to contradict you, but I must say that on the one hand the sheath is unequivocally Mabendi (all the characteristics of the Mabendi are present, which are also extremely particular and unique), while the knife is completely different from the Mabendi knives that are documented ... The blade resembles those of the Lobala or Monzombo knives, the handle is still different ... But African knives often escape the rigid classification that they like so much to we westerners! In any case, congratulations, the knife is very beautiful and interesting!

10th July 2021, 04:05 AM	#7
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,231	On the contrary, I wasn't doubting your comments on the different African regions you ascribed the knife and the sheath to belong to and I believe you when you state that the knife and the scabbard were not made by the same people. The point I was making was that the fit was so good that either the knife was made for the sheath or the sheath was made for the knife by two different groups of people; they just utilized what they traded for, found, or captured. Thank you for your comments and keen insight.

11th July 2021, 05:55 AM	#9
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,231	Thanks for the pictures. The sheath has a very substantial and well-made spearpoint tip, vastly beyond ornamental; was it made as a secondary weapon or to be used in conjunction with the knife in fighting? Possibly as a picket post for a horse or livestock?