Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


1145 - East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath

This dagger features a straight double edged blade that expands slightly in width from its origin before tapering to an acute point and that measures 5¼ inches (13.3 cm) in length. The blade features a low central rib with a shallow fuller on one side of the mid rib opposite a flat facet on the other. The blade shows scattered dark patches, some associated with mild pitting. A brown wooden hilt is rectangular in cross-section beside the base of the blade and there is an old stable appearing crack leading into the mid grip. The hilt transitions through an oval to a round cross section towards its center before expanding out to form a round pommel. The end of a tang is not visible. The dagger measures 8 5/8 inches (22 cm) in overall length and weighs just over 2 ounces (60 grams). The knife is accompanied by an old brown leather-over-wooden-core sheath that has bands of tan grey reptilian leather trim and an attached braided leather arm ring. There is some cracking and losses to the leather and trim, but these are not distracting. Sheathed, the length is 8 5/8 inches (22.6 cm) with a weight of about 3½ ounces (101 grams).


East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath

East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath

East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath

East African Sudanese Arm Dagger with Sheath



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