Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


229 - African Tetela Tribe Spiked Hilt Dagger

The 6.2 inch (15.7 cm) long double edged blade has a well defined central mid rib terminating in a needle point. Typical spurs are present along each edge to which the blade width expands upon arising from the hilt. From the spur the edge is first concave and then slightly convex. The blade facets are decorated with a pair of dashed lines opposite a row of dots tracking the edges on each side. Subtle cross-hatched decoration is noted over the midrib near the dark wooden hilt that expands from flattened diamond cross section through an oval cross section before becoming round and expanding before an abrupt narrowing to form a conical spike. From the finish, it appears likely that the spike once had a typical metal covering, but this is no longer present. Overall length is just over 11½ inches (29.5 cm) with a weight of 2½ ounces (71 grams).


African Tetela Tribe Spiked Hilt Dagger

African Tetela Tribe Spiked Hilt Dagger



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