African Tribal Jambiya? But from Where?

spiral · 2nd September 2007, 04:43 PM

i picked this up recently, & am hoping somecane can help me pin it down, the blade is very well made & hollow forged with lots of incised decoration, few pitting patches lots of black patinaed areas.

Havent got a clue about its origins. The scabbard is some sort of fine cotton cloth soaked in a natural resin or tar type stuff, with stiched lizard skin throat & chape with ball finial. The green piece seems to be very thine heaily patinead copper or brass. Looks like it had leather loops stiched both sides at top of scabbard once.

2 tone wood handle looks rather like a variety of African Mahogany but I wouldnt swear to it. {lots of similar spiecis.}

Ive guessed at Mali, Taureg, Sudan or Ethipean regions or peoples, but I realy havent a clue.

Anyone any ideas? Blades, 11.5 inches 18inch O/A.

Spiral

Lew · 2nd September 2007, 06:19 PM

An unusual piece for sure. I would say it's probably Tuareg or some adjacent tribe from North West Africa.

Lew

Matt Splatt · 2nd September 2007, 06:24 PM

it looks sudanese to me I've seen similar attributed to the Hadendoa but I'm no expert. someone here will know... nice knife.

Tim Simmons · 2nd September 2007, 07:24 PM

Lew is right. The handle is a version of what is commonly known as a cross of Agadez type.

spiral · 2nd September 2007, 07:58 PM

Thanks Guys,

The seller did have an old 19th century French sword a Takouba & Foriegn Legion uniform supposedly from same source, so I guess that fits with Taureg as well.

They could make a good blade.

Pointed,hard,sharp,stiff & springy, all at the same time.

Cheers!

Spiral

Lew · 2nd September 2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Splatt

it looks sudanese to me I've seen similar attributed to the Hadendoa but I'm no expert. someone here will know... nice knife.

Matt

Here are two Hadendoa daggers for comparison the hilts are quite different.

Lew

spiral · 2nd September 2007, 09:08 PM

Were these type of Jambiya usual? I cant recall seeing one before?

The hollow forged blade style seems unusual as well?

Spiral

Lew · 2nd September 2007, 09:39 PM

I would think this type of dagger was more of the rarer styles most Tuareg daggers I have seen are straight bladed daggers such as the telek.

Lew

spiral · 4th September 2007, 11:57 AM

Thanks Lew, Yes all my reference matierials & net serches just turn up the straighter bladed pieces.

I realy like unusual pieces but its also nice to find similar sometimes, particularly when its not ones main field.

Spiral

2nd September 2007, 04:43 PM	#1
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	African Tribal Jambiya? But from Where? i picked this up recently, & am hoping somecane can help me pin it down, the blade is very well made & hollow forged with lots of incised decoration, few pitting patches lots of black patinaed areas. Havent got a clue about its origins. The scabbard is some sort of fine cotton cloth soaked in a natural resin or tar type stuff, with stiched lizard skin throat & chape with ball finial. The green piece seems to be very thine heaily patinead copper or brass. Looks like it had leather loops stiched both sides at top of scabbard once. 2 tone wood handle looks rather like a variety of African Mahogany but I wouldnt swear to it. {lots of similar spiecis.} Ive guessed at Mali, Taureg, Sudan or Ethipean regions or peoples, but I realy havent a clue. Anyone any ideas? Blades, 11.5 inches 18inch O/A. Spiral Last edited by spiral; 2nd September 2007 at 04:54 PM.

2nd September 2007, 06:19 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	An unusual piece for sure. I would say it's probably Tuareg or some adjacent tribe from North West Africa. Lew

2nd September 2007, 06:24 PM	#3
Matt Splatt Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 31	it looks sudanese to me I've seen similar attributed to the Hadendoa but I'm no expert. someone here will know... nice knife.

2nd September 2007, 07:24 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Lew is right. The handle is a version of what is commonly known as a cross of Agadez type.

2nd September 2007, 07:58 PM	#5
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thanks Guys, The seller did have an old 19th century French sword a Takouba & Foriegn Legion uniform supposedly from same source, so I guess that fits with Taureg as well. They could make a good blade. Pointed,hard,sharp,stiff & springy, all at the same time. Cheers! Spiral

2nd September 2007, 09:08 PM	#7
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Were these type of Jambiya usual? I cant recall seeing one before? The hollow forged blade style seems unusual as well? Spiral

2nd September 2007, 09:39 PM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I would think this type of dagger was more of the rarer styles most Tuareg daggers I have seen are straight bladed daggers such as the telek. Lew

4th September 2007, 11:57 AM	#9
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thanks Lew, Yes all my reference matierials & net serches just turn up the straighter bladed pieces. I realy like unusual pieces but its also nice to find similar sometimes, particularly when its not ones main field. Spiral