Konso dagger?

Shimmerxxx · 5th October 2023, 02:45 PM

I recently picked up this knife. After asking around I've been informed it's made by the Konso tribe of central Ethiopia. Can anyone confirm this?

Sajen · 5th October 2023, 06:12 PM

Hello,
East African for sure but I can't help with the tribe and exact origin. I've handled a few similar ones, they seem to my eyes very recent and it could be that they are worked for selling purposes to tourists but I am unsure about this. But we have members who will be able to tell you more.
Regards,
Detlef

Martin Lubojacky · 5th October 2023, 08:43 PM

This style of handle is said to have been used in central Ethiopia, around Addis Ababa. Now I have a link to photo of the application on a kitchen knife that is quite old:http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13705 . I'll find some more photos tomorrow (hopefully). They are still being made, not as nice as they used to be. Probably mainly for tourists. I can imagine that they are already being delivered around Ethiopia to various places (for tourists). But I don't think it's Konso in origin. A colleague of mine had it as an old family knife - he was coming from central Ethiopia. He was Oromo, but I don't think it was a purely tribal thing. Rather, regional specific production. There are also Amhara people in that part.

Martin Lubojacky · 6th October 2023, 12:47 PM

I am attaching a joint photo of 3 daggers from central Ethiopia and Addis kitchen knife, + dagger from the Golan Heights just for comparison of handles.

Shimmerxxx · 6th October 2023, 05:09 PM

Much appreciated Martin. I figured my knife was a tourist piece based on the blade cross section, but good to find out more.

I picked up a couple of other blades recently. I'll post photos later.

Thanks!

G. Mansfield · 19th October 2023, 06:52 PM

Here are three from my collection. The older examples were of elephant ivory while the newer ones are made from bone. Many of the silver alloy sheaths and pommel cap ornaments are from older Abyssinian gurade or shotel sword chapes, likely a secondary use after falling in disrepair. As Martin stated, these are tourist peices and can still be found today from my understanding, but in lesser quality and craftsmenship for sure.

-Geoffrey

roanoa · 21st October 2023, 08:33 PM

These are two of my knives. The use of fittings from sword scabbards seems to be a common factor, though I do not know if this practice was meant to make them more desirable for tourist sales. Keeping in mind that there were "tourists" in Ethiopia and Eritrea from the late 1890's to before WWII.

Shimmerxxx · 24th October 2023, 11:00 PM

Great photos and information chaps. Thanks.

5th October 2023, 02:45 PM	#1
Shimmerxxx Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Wickford, UK Posts: 54	Konso dagger? I recently picked up this knife. After asking around I've been informed it's made by the Konso tribe of central Ethiopia. Can anyone confirm this? Attached Images

6th October 2023, 12:47 PM	#4
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	I am attaching a joint photo of 3 daggers from central Ethiopia and Addis kitchen knife, + dagger from the Golan Heights just for comparison of handles. Attached Images

19th October 2023, 06:52 PM	#6
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 83	Here are three from my collection. The older examples were of elephant ivory while the newer ones are made from bone. Many of the silver alloy sheaths and pommel cap ornaments are from older Abyssinian gurade or shotel sword chapes, likely a secondary use after falling in disrepair. As Martin stated, these are tourist peices and can still be found today from my understanding, but in lesser quality and craftsmenship for sure. -Geoffrey Attached Images

21st October 2023, 08:33 PM	#7
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 235	These are two of my knives. The use of fittings from sword scabbards seems to be a common factor, though I do not know if this practice was meant to make them more desirable for tourist sales. Keeping in mind that there were "tourists" in Ethiopia and Eritrea from the late 1890's to before WWII. Attached Images

5th October 2023, 06:12 PM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hello, East African for sure but I can't help with the tribe and exact origin. I've handled a few similar ones, they seem to my eyes very recent and it could be that they are worked for selling purposes to tourists but I am unsure about this. But we have members who will be able to tell you more. Regards, Detlef

5th October 2023, 08:43 PM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	This style of handle is said to have been used in central Ethiopia, around Addis Ababa. Now I have a link to photo of the application on a kitchen knife that is quite old:http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13705 . I'll find some more photos tomorrow (hopefully). They are still being made, not as nice as they used to be. Probably mainly for tourists. I can imagine that they are already being delivered around Ethiopia to various places (for tourists). But I don't think it's Konso in origin. A colleague of mine had it as an old family knife - he was coming from central Ethiopia. He was Oromo, but I don't think it was a purely tribal thing. Rather, regional specific production. There are also Amhara people in that part.

6th October 2023, 05:09 PM	#5
Shimmerxxx Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Wickford, UK Posts: 54	Much appreciated Martin. I figured my knife was a tourist piece based on the blade cross section, but good to find out more. I picked up a couple of other blades recently. I'll post photos later. Thanks!

24th October 2023, 11:00 PM	#8
Shimmerxxx Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Wickford, UK Posts: 54	Great photos and information chaps. Thanks.