Namibian gem.

Tim Simmons · 26th September 2006, 10:14 PM

I came across this at the weekend just past. Even those with gigantomania should be able to appreciate the simple pleasing form and skillful use of a small but reletivly precious piece of steel. The blade is 12cm long and 2cm at the forte, thin and very sharp. The flash is on.

katana · 26th September 2006, 11:18 PM

A very nice piece Tim.....as you said very pleasing to the the eye....it seems recent.. have you any idea as to age?

Flavio · 27th September 2006, 12:05 AM

Congratulations, Tim, very very nice

Tim Simmons · 27th September 2006, 05:47 PM

Hi David. I do not think it is all that old possibly 1930s, hard to tell could be a little older. Here are some daylight pictures with another one, much more of a dagger. The smaller knife seems to have more patina but I think they are about the same age. I just think the concept of these little knives is quite amazing especially when compered to the Sykes/Fairburn commando type thing which has an almost cult following.

Tim Simmons · 27th September 2006, 09:19 PM

I forgot this one which I think may be the most recent knife. The blade is thin and sharp like the small knife. The odd one out is the thick bladed stabbing knife. I like the way one can see the links between each knife.

Tim Simmons · 27th September 2006, 09:28 PM

Now I am starting to think these could all be from the early 20th cent. German South West Africa, Namibia. Am I just better a little carried away

.

Mapico1 · 27th September 2006, 09:45 PM

Sorry to get you out of the dream Tim but I was told by a South african dealer/collector a while ago these are 1960-70 objects for the tourist trade.
He told me when I offered him the one attached........I thought they were great to.

He also told me they're sometimes made as triplets to.
Danny

Tim Simmons · 27th September 2006, 09:53 PM

Yes I think that knife you show is most definitely a tourist piece. Take a closer look at the knives I post. I do not want to spark an international quarrel but does not SA more or less run Namibia. I can sleep safely for a few more posts I think

.

Mapico1 · 27th September 2006, 10:04 PM

KEEP ON DREAMING!!!

Tim Simmons · 27th September 2006, 10:06 PM

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

katana · 27th September 2006, 10:31 PM

Hi Tim, I SAID HI TIM.....just in case your still asleep

. Mapicos posted knives are similar....however, I have several observations....yours seem better quality, the finish etc is much better. Secondly, surely knives made for the tourist market would be copies of existing tribal knives. Why design a knife exclusively for 'travellers' ?
IMHO you (Tim) either have a very good quality 'tourist' knife ....or yours is the genuine article....... ('sitting on the fence' I know....but I am more inclined towards the gen. article

)

Tim Simmons · 27th September 2006, 10:36 PM

Yes indeed. I feel I can bounce my ball in the court with lots of ball thumping noise. I do not really like sport that much just dabbled.

Tim Simmons · 28th September 2006, 09:44 AM

These are Known as being from the Ovambo. A fine prestige example can be seen in the web site Mambele be. I found this rough example, http://www.bushmanart-gallery.com/main.html

It seems quite hard to find nice examples like the ones I show on the net.http://www.mambele.be/search_result....n=&met=s&jczn=

Mapico1 · 28th September 2006, 11:31 AM

On ebay there're 2 simular ones with seller collectingspears if you want to make a collection of these wonderful daggers......they just need a little wax

hurry they end in 40+ hours

Mapico1 · 28th September 2006, 11:48 AM

This is an old Ovambo dagger,missing the cressent moon on the base.
Old Ovambo daggers are hard to find and go very high prices.
The reddish dagger you published Tim between the Ovambo's is from the Bechuana tribe in Botswana.
Danny

Tim Simmons · 28th September 2006, 12:32 PM

Thanks Danny, that is a nice knife. What a shame it is dammaged. Mine are clearly not as old but I can see no reason they are not from around 1918.

katana · 7th October 2006, 01:18 PM

Hi Tim,
while watching a 'Ray Mears, survival programme' (worth watching..when he visits tribes and gains 'local knowledge') a very similar knife was shown. It belonged to a Jo'hansi Bushman from Namibia, and is used as a utility knife....for eating, hunting, skinning etc

Tim Simmons · 7th October 2006, 10:03 PM

Thanks David, as I said a Namibian gem. I have the knives to handle and they do have some age to them. I see no reason they are not of the same period as the African version of a European military knife of around ww1. That knife in fact appears less used exept for chips on the blade. Thump thump thump

Tim Simmons · 17th October 2006, 06:29 PM

Pictures from Zirngibl-Afrikanische Waffen

26th September 2006, 10:14 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Namibian gem. I came across this at the weekend just past. Even those with gigantomania should be able to appreciate the simple pleasing form and skillful use of a small but reletivly precious piece of steel. The blade is 12cm long and 2cm at the forte, thin and very sharp. The flash is on. Attached Images

27th September 2006, 05:47 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Hi David. I do not think it is all that old possibly 1930s, hard to tell could be a little older. Here are some daylight pictures with another one, much more of a dagger. The smaller knife seems to have more patina but I think they are about the same age. I just think the concept of these little knives is quite amazing especially when compered to the Sykes/Fairburn commando type thing which has an almost cult following. Attached Images

27th September 2006, 09:19 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I forgot this one which I think may be the most recent knife. The blade is thin and sharp like the small knife. The odd one out is the thick bladed stabbing knife. I like the way one can see the links between each knife. Attached Images

27th September 2006, 09:28 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Now I am starting to think these could all be from the early 20th cent. German South West Africa, Namibia. Am I just better a little carried away . Attached Images

27th September 2006, 09:45 PM	#7
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Namibie made my day......not Sorry to get you out of the dream Tim but I was told by a South african dealer/collector a while ago these are 1960-70 objects for the tourist trade. He told me when I offered him the one attached........I thought they were great to. He also told me they're sometimes made as triplets to. Danny Attached Images

26th September 2006, 11:18 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	A very nice piece Tim.....as you said very pleasing to the the eye....it seems recent.. have you any idea as to age?

27th September 2006, 12:05 AM	#3
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Congratulations, Tim, very very nice

27th September 2006, 09:53 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Yes I think that knife you show is most definitely a tourist piece. Take a closer look at the knives I post. I do not want to spark an international quarrel but does not SA more or less run Namibia. I can sleep safely for a few more posts I think .

27th September 2006, 10:04 PM	#9
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	KEEP ON DREAMING!!!

27th September 2006, 10:06 PM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

27th September 2006, 10:31 PM	#11
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Tim, I SAID HI TIM.....just in case your still asleep . Mapicos posted knives are similar....however, I have several observations....yours seem better quality, the finish etc is much better. Secondly, surely knives made for the tourist market would be copies of existing tribal knives. Why design a knife exclusively for 'travellers' ? IMHO you (Tim) either have a very good quality 'tourist' knife ....or yours is the genuine article....... ('sitting on the fence' I know....but I am more inclined towards the gen. article )

27th September 2006, 10:36 PM	#12
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Yes indeed. I feel I can bounce my ball in the court with lots of ball thumping noise. I do not really like sport that much just dabbled.

28th September 2006, 09:44 AM	#13
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	These are Known as being from the Ovambo. A fine prestige example can be seen in the web site Mambele be. I found this rough example, http://www.bushmanart-gallery.com/main.html It seems quite hard to find nice examples like the ones I show on the net.http://www.mambele.be/search_result....n=&met=s&jczn= Last edited by Tim Simmons; 28th September 2006 at 10:41 AM.

28th September 2006, 11:31 AM	#14
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	nice,nice,nice On ebay there're 2 simular ones with seller collectingspears if you want to make a collection of these wonderful daggers......they just need a little wax hurry they end in 40+ hours

28th September 2006, 11:48 AM	#15
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Old Ovambo dagger This is an old Ovambo dagger,missing the cressent moon on the base. Old Ovambo daggers are hard to find and go very high prices. The reddish dagger you published Tim between the Ovambo's is from the Bechuana tribe in Botswana. Danny Attached Images

28th September 2006, 12:32 PM	#16
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks Danny, that is a nice knife. What a shame it is dammaged. Mine are clearly not as old but I can see no reason they are not from around 1918.

7th October 2006, 01:18 PM	#17
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi Tim, while watching a 'Ray Mears, survival programme' (worth watching..when he visits tribes and gains 'local knowledge') a very similar knife was shown. It belonged to a Jo'hansi Bushman from Namibia, and is used as a utility knife....for eating, hunting, skinning etc

7th October 2006, 10:03 PM	#18
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks David, as I said a Namibian gem. I have the knives to handle and they do have some age to them. I see no reason they are not of the same period as the African version of a European military knife of around ww1. That knife in fact appears less used exept for chips on the blade. Thump thump thump

17th October 2006, 06:29 PM	#19
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Somebody wake me from this tormenting dream! Pictures from Zirngibl-Afrikanische Waffen