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20th May 2024, 04:09 PM
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#1 |
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: France
Posts: 178
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An interesting african knife with inscription
Hi all !
Found and cleaned yesterday, this little knife has some interesting history attached to it ! Obviously West African, looking at the Quai Branly collection, I'm tempted to narrow it down to Guinea (https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/234985-couteau-et-gaine https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...rd-et-fourreau https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...223316-couteau https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...au-et-fourreau) Surprisingly, the pommel cap is made from a cartridge. Thanks to the markings on the rim, I was able to identify it, and it is a "balle D" 8mm mle 1896 for the French Lebel rifle (http://www.armeetpassion.com/8%20lebel-1.html). The other unexpected element is the inscription on the blade "Souvenir de Massa Kohibogui" (Keepsake of Massa Kohibogui). The script is typical of the early 20th century. I had a hard time finding anything about this inscription, but finally I did found Massa Koibogui, a corporal from the Tirailleurs Sénégalais in Guinea, mentioned in the "Journal Officiel de la Guinée Française" in 1925 ! I'm almost certain that they are the same person : time frame, location, and the use of a french cartridge all points towards it. (And I did not find any homonym) I honestly find it pretty amazing that an object like this could be linked to one identifiable person almost 100 years later ! |
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20th May 2024, 04:39 PM
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#2 |
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Vikingsword Staff
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Aussie Bush
Posts: 4,200
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Impressive investigative work, Yvain. Good job!
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20th May 2024, 09:49 PM
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#3 |
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,624
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It is indeed rare to find an item that can be attributed to a particular person with any degree of certainty. I am even more impressed about your ability to research the items in your collection, and your overall contributions to enhancing our knowledge of West African knives and daggers.
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21st May 2024, 06:34 PM
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#4 |
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: France
Posts: 178
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Thanks to both of you!
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22nd May 2024, 02:53 PM
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#5 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 162
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Hi Yvain
Always cool to link an object to a person, well done. Regards Marc |
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22nd May 2024, 04:43 PM
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#6 |
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,781
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Very good research work!
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24th May 2024, 08:44 AM
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#7 |
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Spain
Posts: 29
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Nice research work! It is an interesting discovery
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Linear Mode
