Algerian Khodmi or Moroccan Genoui ???

[CharlesS]

Here is an odd, but attractive, little dagger that shows both characteristics of an Algerian khodmi dagger and a Moroccan genoui. The blade is clearly that of a khodmi, but the hilt's bolster, pommel cap, and the scabbard clearly seem to be in the Moroccan style, including the silver hallmarked locket. The hilt is of polished bone. Notice even the decorative styles in circular floral motifs on the locket and chape are similar to what we would expect to find on a Moroccan koummya or genoui.

I am not sure we will ever know whether this was carried as a dressed out khodmi, or a genoui, but it is certainly an interesting combination of characteristics of the two dagger styles.

Dimensions:

Overall length: 15.75in.
Blade length: 9.5in.
Widest point of the blade at the forte: 1in.


Observations and comments welcomed!

[Emanuel]

Hi Charles,

Very nice knife!

I think this is definitely Moroccan and in the genoui style. The construction seems to me quite different from Algerian Bou-Saadi knives.

Regards,
Emanuel

[CharlesS]

Thanks Emanuel,

No doubt it is Moroccan style dress, just the blade with it is a bit of a mystery, but by no means incompatible, or even shocking.

[Emanuel]

Hi again Charles,

I was also referring to the blade construction. Lots of koummiya and genoui have the exact same blade with shallow fullers at the ricasso and back edge, but curved. I'll post some fairly illustrative examples from Oriental-Arms' archive.

Some Bou-Saadi knives also have a very shallow fuller along the edge, but they're built differently and the blade profiles are different than this knife.

Emanuel

[Oriental-Arms]

The “Hallmark” on the locket is most probably a date, standing for 1318 ( 1900 in the Gregorian calendar). Many Moroccan artifacts are dated in the Islamic calendar but with European numerals rather than Arabic. See for example dating on another Moroccan Koumaya dated to 1313 (1895)

[CharlesS]

Thanks Artzi. That makes perfect sense.