Please help me ID these Chadian daggers.

katana · 20th November 2007, 10:24 PM

Hi Xerg,
this type of dagger are usually called tebu, commonly found around the southern Sahara ( Chad to northern Cameroon and northern areas of Nigeria). But are common to nomad groups from Chad. These vary in quality, the blade IMHO is the 'tell', if the blade is relatively thick and well made then you have a good one. The quality of the leather work/handle seems pretty much the same for a good functional example, as it is for a tourist piece.

Regards David

Emanuel · 20th November 2007, 10:41 PM

Hi David,

The Tebu daggers have slightly different blades don't they? They seem to have a double taper, changing about halfway down the blade: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...54&postcount=1 Xerg's examples have a constant taper.
It looks like these daggers are everywhere. Is there a tribe in Central Africa that DOESN"T have some variant of them?

Regards,
Emanuel

katana · 20th November 2007, 11:57 PM

Hi Emanuel,
the majority I have seen do have the shaped blade you describe.
Some examples..
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tebu
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tebu
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tebu

However, I was under the impression that there were local variants in blade shape but, due to handle/pommel characteristics being the same,they were all classed as 'Tebu'

Regards David

20th November 2007, 10:24 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Xerg, this type of dagger are usually called tebu, commonly found around the southern Sahara ( Chad to northern Cameroon and northern areas of Nigeria). But are common to nomad groups from Chad. These vary in quality, the blade IMHO is the 'tell', if the blade is relatively thick and well made then you have a good one. The quality of the leather work/handle seems pretty much the same for a good functional example, as it is for a tourist piece. Regards David

20th November 2007, 10:41 PM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi David, The Tebu daggers have slightly different blades don't they? They seem to have a double taper, changing about halfway down the blade: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...54&postcount=1 Xerg's examples have a constant taper. It looks like these daggers are everywhere. Is there a tribe in Central Africa that DOESN"T have some variant of them? Regards, Emanuel

20th November 2007, 11:57 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Emanuel, the majority I have seen do have the shaped blade you describe. Some examples.. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tebu http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tebu http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tebu However, I was under the impression that there were local variants in blade shape but, due to handle/pommel characteristics being the same,they were all classed as 'Tebu' Regards David