Uncommon West African dagger

Tim Simmons · 30th December 2021, 06:38 AM

Not uncommon. The blade looks copper or brass which is not that unusual. I have had several African copper and brass bladed knives. To say exactly where it originates could be a problem. I would say more to West African.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...+brass+weapons

Sajen · 30th December 2021, 09:28 AM

Hello Pitt,

Your nice dagger is from Benin and from the Bariba tribes, see here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=west+african
I've owned once a similar piece but sold it long time ago. The blade will be iron instead of copper or brass.

Best regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 30th December 2021, 09:35 AM

PS: Here a good site for research:http://www.africanarms.com/gallery?a...word-and-knife
It's the great collection from Wolf Dieter Miersch, our member Wodimi!

Pitt1999 · 31st December 2021, 03:52 AM

Thank you all for your identifications and comments. I also have recently purchased another dagger that I believe to be of West African origin. I bought this knowing it is probably of more recent manufacture. The style doesn't seem very distinct, and with it missing it's sheath (which I find helps greatly for proper identification), this dagger could be from anywhere in the general area of Western Africa.

Pitt1999 · 2nd January 2022, 08:37 PM

That collection is AMAZING. Does he ever sell any of his pieces or is his collection purely for reference?

Pitt1999 · 2nd January 2022, 10:18 PM

Another thing I wanted to know is if there are any of these Bariba tribe daggers that don't have the needle like tip? This may seem like a petty complaint, but I always found those super tapered needle like points on daggers kind of ugly. I don't know the term for that kind of tapering towards the tip but tebu/tubu daggers often have a similar type of tip.

Sajen · 3rd January 2022, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt1999

Another thing I wanted to know is if there are any of these Bariba tribe daggers that don't have the needle like tip? This may seem like a petty complaint, but I always found those super tapered needle like points on daggers kind of ugly. I don't know the term for that kind of tapering towards the tip but tebu/tubu daggers often have a similar type of tip.

Hello Pitt,

I really don't know but I guess they all somewhat similar.

Regards,
Detlef

30th December 2021, 06:38 AM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Not uncommon. The blade looks copper or brass which is not that unusual. I have had several African copper and brass bladed knives. To say exactly where it originates could be a problem. I would say more to West African. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...+brass+weapons Last edited by Tim Simmons; 30th December 2021 at 07:11 AM.

30th December 2021, 09:28 AM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	Hello Pitt, Your nice dagger is from Benin and from the Bariba tribes, see here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=west+african I've owned once a similar piece but sold it long time ago. The blade will be iron instead of copper or brass. Best regards, Detlef Attached Images

31st December 2021, 03:52 AM	#4
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 108	Thank you all for your identifications and comments. I also have recently purchased another dagger that I believe to be of West African origin. I bought this knowing it is probably of more recent manufacture. The style doesn't seem very distinct, and with it missing it's sheath (which I find helps greatly for proper identification), this dagger could be from anywhere in the general area of Western Africa. Attached Images

30th December 2021, 09:35 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,165	PS: Here a good site for research:http://www.africanarms.com/gallery?a...word-and-knife It's the great collection from Wolf Dieter Miersch, our member Wodimi!

2nd January 2022, 08:37 PM	#5
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 108	That collection is AMAZING. Does he ever sell any of his pieces or is his collection purely for reference?

2nd January 2022, 10:18 PM	#6
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 108	Another thing I wanted to know is if there are any of these Bariba tribe daggers that don't have the needle like tip? This may seem like a petty complaint, but I always found those super tapered needle like points on daggers kind of ugly. I don't know the term for that kind of tapering towards the tip but tebu/tubu daggers often have a similar type of tip.