Thread: Mahdist knife
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Old 10th June 2008, 10:27 PM   #5
Jim McDougall
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This dagger is most definitely Sudanese, and probably an early to mid 20th century interpretation of those fashioned by Mahdist armourers during those conflicts. The basic form reflects the kindjhals often carried by Turco-Egyptian troops, which was often imitated by local smiths and an example of this exact type blade is shown in the catalog for the Kendall Collection exhibition (Linz & Schallaberg, Austria, 2001-2002).

The bifurcated blade of course is intended as an interpretation reflecting the very sacred Sword used by Muhammed, Dhu'l Faqar, and the thuluth script acid etched on the blade is typical of those on Sudanese edged weapons associated with the Mahdist period
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