Show us your khodmi/Bou Saadi knife

[Sajen]

These small Algerian knives have a great variation in handle style and material, material of the wire binding down from the handle and blade markings.
I own three of these knives, two with wooden handles and one with a bone handle, one has a pure brass wire winding, one with a combined iron/copper wire binding and the one with the bone handle has a pure iron binding.
They are between 26,7 and 24 cm long.
I hope to see your examples in this thread as well!

[TVV]

Nice khodmis Detlef. I only have a couple, the larger of which is 44.5 cm long.

[Sajen]

Thank you very much for showing your nice examples!

Your long one isn't a khodmi, it belongs to the long daggers from Bou Saada without the wire binding in down from the handle, see my examples from this type.

Regards,
Detlef

[Pertinax]

Hi Detlef!

I have already shown my copy, I will add it again.

And the cherry on the cake - Etienne Dinet "Hunter" 1902

Best regards,
Yuri

[TVV]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Thank you very much for showing your nice examples!

Your long one isn't a khodmi, it belongs to the long daggers from Bou Saada without the wire binding in down from the handle, see my examples from this type.

Regards,
Detlef

Detlef, you are right that there are two distinct types. Eric Claude in his book states that khodmi is simply a local word for knife and I am not sure whether we should use it to describe only one of the types from Bou Saada. In fact, Bou Saadi, as in simply meaning knives made in Bou Saada may be the more appropriate term.

When it comes to the two types, there are some similarities, as well as some obvious differences. The smaller type was meant to be tucked in a sash and the scabbard has a small leather loop. The other type has rings on both sides of the scabbard mouth and meant to be worn on a baldric. I am sure there were good reasons for that and maybe someone with local knowledge like fennec might be able to provide more info.

[TVV]

Originally Posted by Pertinax

Hi Detlef!

I have already shown my copy, I will add it again.

And the cherry on the cake - Etienne Dinet "Hunter" 1902

Best regards,
Yuri

This is a nice example which has some age. What I find interesting on yours is that the scales are riveted to the tang like on the longer type, and the wire binding therefore minimal and mostly decorative. I wonder if the wire binding became more extensive over time as a method of securing the grip as opposed to riveting it.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by TVV

This is a nice example which has some age. What I find interesting on yours is that the scales are riveted to the tang like on the longer type, and the wire binding therefore minimal and mostly decorative. I wonder if the wire binding became more extensive over time as a method of securing the grip as opposed to riveting it.

Could also be that some of the wire binding got lost at Yuri's nice example, see the shadow on the goat horn.

Regards,
Detlef

[Pertinax]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Could also be that some of the wire binding got lost at Yuri's nice example, see the shadow on the goat horn.

Regards,
Detlef

Detlef, you're right!

I've had this knife for quite a long time, and I didn't pay attention to these nuances. But now I looked closely, and there really are traces of wire on the handle.

Live and learn, but you will still die a fool (Russian humorous proverb).

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Pertinax

Detlef, you're right!

I've had this knife for quite a long time, and I didn't pay attention to these nuances. But now I looked closely, and there really are traces of wire on the handle.

Live and learn, but you will still die a fool (Russian humorous proverb).

Yuri, we all learn something new every day, would be sad when not! I handled a few where the wire binding got lost over time which looked similar to your example.

Best regards,
Detlef

[Sajen]

These both will enter the small collection soon.

[TVV]

Detlef, you have done a much better job collecting these than me. Claude writes that the khodmi hilt is split to allow the tang to be inserted, and therefore the wiring is necessary to hold everything in place. On Yuri's example the hilt construction is in between the two types, with horn scales riveted together instead of a single piece of horn. Thus, less wire was needed at only a couple of spots, as opposed to half the hilt. On mine, the hilt is made of a single piece of horn and the wiring is so extensive that it even covers the hole for the lanyard in the middle of the grip.

[Sajen]

The one from my collection with the bone handle has a very similar construction as the one from Yuri where some of the wire binding got lost like Yuri confirmed. I am nearly sure that my one has two rivets under the wire binding also, I have seen some of these knives where the wire binding was opened or lost, all had the same construction like we see it in Yuri's example.
I hope Khaled (Fennec) sees this thread and will be able to tell us more. In my opinion the wire binding is only a reinforcing.

Regards,
Detlef