Uncommon West African dagger

Pitt1999 · 29th December 2021, 01:52 AM

Hello,

I mentioned in my first post that I would be posting more photos of my current collection, and those photos will be coming, but for now I will be showing a piece I have purchased but do not have in hand yet. I have looked over some threads on the forum that I remember made mention of these daggers but haven't seen much specific informarion other than they are West African or Sudanese in origin. One thing that seems unusual for African weapons as a whole, but very common for these specific daggers is the use of rayskin on the hilt and sheath. These photos are the seller's photos so forgive the poor angles.

Tim Simmons · 30th December 2021, 06:38 AM

Not uncommon. The blade looks copper or brass which is not that unusual. I have had several African copper and brass bladed knives. To say exactly where it originates could be a problem. I would say more to West African.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...+brass+weapons

Sajen · 30th December 2021, 09:28 AM

Hello Pitt,

Your nice dagger is from Benin and from the Bariba tribes, see here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=west+african
I've owned once a similar piece but sold it long time ago. The blade will be iron instead of copper or brass.

Best regards,
Detlef

Sajen · 30th December 2021, 09:35 AM

PS: Here a good site for research:http://www.africanarms.com/gallery?a...word-and-knife
It's the great collection from Wolf Dieter Miersch, our member Wodimi!

Pitt1999 · 31st December 2021, 03:52 AM

Thank you all for your identifications and comments. I also have recently purchased another dagger that I believe to be of West African origin. I bought this knowing it is probably of more recent manufacture. The style doesn't seem very distinct, and with it missing it's sheath (which I find helps greatly for proper identification), this dagger could be from anywhere in the general area of Western Africa.

Pitt1999 · 2nd January 2022, 08:37 PM

That collection is AMAZING. Does he ever sell any of his pieces or is his collection purely for reference?

Pitt1999 · 2nd January 2022, 10:18 PM

Another thing I wanted to know is if there are any of these Bariba tribe daggers that don't have the needle like tip? This may seem like a petty complaint, but I always found those super tapered needle like points on daggers kind of ugly. I don't know the term for that kind of tapering towards the tip but tebu/tubu daggers often have a similar type of tip.

29th December 2021, 01:52 AM	#1
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 105	Uncommon West African dagger Hello, I mentioned in my first post that I would be posting more photos of my current collection, and those photos will be coming, but for now I will be showing a piece I have purchased but do not have in hand yet. I have looked over some threads on the forum that I remember made mention of these daggers but haven't seen much specific informarion other than they are West African or Sudanese in origin. One thing that seems unusual for African weapons as a whole, but very common for these specific daggers is the use of rayskin on the hilt and sheath. These photos are the seller's photos so forgive the poor angles. Attached Images

30th December 2021, 06:38 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Not uncommon. The blade looks copper or brass which is not that unusual. I have had several African copper and brass bladed knives. To say exactly where it originates could be a problem. I would say more to West African. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...+brass+weapons Last edited by Tim Simmons; 30th December 2021 at 07:11 AM.

30th December 2021, 09:28 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,769	Hello Pitt, Your nice dagger is from Benin and from the Bariba tribes, see here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=west+african I've owned once a similar piece but sold it long time ago. The blade will be iron instead of copper or brass. Best regards, Detlef Attached Images

31st December 2021, 03:52 AM	#5
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 105	Thank you all for your identifications and comments. I also have recently purchased another dagger that I believe to be of West African origin. I bought this knowing it is probably of more recent manufacture. The style doesn't seem very distinct, and with it missing it's sheath (which I find helps greatly for proper identification), this dagger could be from anywhere in the general area of Western Africa. Attached Images

30th December 2021, 09:35 AM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,769	PS: Here a good site for research:http://www.africanarms.com/gallery?a...word-and-knife It's the great collection from Wolf Dieter Miersch, our member Wodimi!

2nd January 2022, 08:37 PM	#6
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 105	That collection is AMAZING. Does he ever sell any of his pieces or is his collection purely for reference?

2nd January 2022, 10:18 PM	#7
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 105	Another thing I wanted to know is if there are any of these Bariba tribe daggers that don't have the needle like tip? This may seem like a petty complaint, but I always found those super tapered needle like points on daggers kind of ugly. I don't know the term for that kind of tapering towards the tip but tebu/tubu daggers often have a similar type of tip.