No gile in the archive.

Tim Simmons · 12th March 2005, 08:10 PM

I am not happy buying from ebay,I see it a bit like gambling,one must only spend what you are prepared to lose.However I bought this which I am still in two minds about.The handle is made of aluminium and two colours of horn, and forged from an old file.It smells of wood smoke and ghee.Where are all the good ones out there?At the same time help the archive.Tim

Ian · 12th March 2005, 10:51 PM

Tim:

There is actually some information about these knives on the old forum. This thread has some useful discussion and a few pictures: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001510.html

We decided, as I recall, that these knives came from the Afari people living in the Danekil Desert. Quite a fierce group.

Here are some pictures of one of mine that I posted previously in that thread. There is a story that goes with this knife (see the thread above).

Ian.

Tim Simmons · 13th March 2005, 10:28 AM

Thank you Ian, most helpful,now I have seen more examples I might feel a little better about the purchase.Tim

Lew · 14th March 2005, 06:10 AM

Hi Tim

I see nothing wrong with your gile dagger. It's probably post WW2 and I think it is quite nice. I was thinking about bidding on that one but could not get a clear picture of it from the seller. Seeing that it was made from a file and forged to shape means it is a good quality blade. Hey if you really don't like it you can always find a way to get rid of it

Really it is a nice find congrats!

Lew

Tim Simmons · 14th March 2005, 05:38 PM

Thanks Lew, what with the two shades of horn and finding some good modern day photos showing how materialy poor these hardy nomad people are I am in full agreement with you.The sellers photo was very bad, I took a gamble.Tim

Conogre · 15th March 2005, 06:11 AM

I too think you did fairly well....I've got one that's also WWII vintage or later and while we westerners tend to look down on aluminum it's often hard to remember that even today many of the Afar and similar nomadic peoples aren't far removed from where they were 100 years ago with the exception that, in their eyes, the Gods took pity on them and left vast piles of metal (tanks, jeeps and aircraft) laying around that their ancestors would have happily fought to the death for.
Likewise, many of their ancestors DID die while those piles of metal were accumulating and they are using them just as their ancestors did.
Mike

Tim Simmons · 15th March 2005, 06:51 PM

That looks like a nice blade there Mike.Nomads like the Afar do not have scrap or waste except maybe human poop,though there might be a use for even that!Thanks everyone for the replies.Tim

Lew · 15th March 2005, 08:03 PM

Hi Tim

This is the one from my collection.

Lew

Tim Simmons · 15th March 2005, 08:36 PM

I assume that beautiful and gracefull knife has parted company with its scabbard,what a shame.Tim

Lew · 15th March 2005, 08:49 PM

Tim

I still have the scabbard it's in poor condition and buried in my closet some where?

Lew

Conogre · 16th March 2005, 09:37 AM

That's because "the secret of leather" fares far less well than "the secret of steel" **grin**.
That's also why blades with wood or metal over wood scabbards are more often found complete, which actually is quite sad, particularly in African weaponry, moreso than any other culture/cultures that comes to mind wherein the shapes so often bear little resemblance to the blade that they house.
Mike

Ian · 16th March 2005, 05:43 PM

The sheath on mine is not tanned leather but rather an animal skin -- it survives an even shorter time than treated leather.

12th March 2005, 08:10 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	No gile in the archive. I am not happy buying from ebay,I see it a bit like gambling,one must only spend what you are prepared to lose.However I bought this which I am still in two minds about.The handle is made of aluminium and two colours of horn, and forged from an old file.It smells of wood smoke and ghee.Where are all the good ones out there?At the same time help the archive.Tim Attached Images

12th March 2005, 10:51 PM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,209	Tim: There is actually some information about these knives on the old forum. This thread has some useful discussion and a few pictures: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001510.html We decided, as I recall, that these knives came from the Afari people living in the Danekil Desert. Quite a fierce group. Here are some pictures of one of mine that I posted previously in that thread. There is a story that goes with this knife (see the thread above). Ian. Attached Images

15th March 2005, 06:11 AM	#6
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	I too think you did fairly well....I've got one that's also WWII vintage or later and while we westerners tend to look down on aluminum it's often hard to remember that even today many of the Afar and similar nomadic peoples aren't far removed from where they were 100 years ago with the exception that, in their eyes, the Gods took pity on them and left vast piles of metal (tanks, jeeps and aircraft) laying around that their ancestors would have happily fought to the death for. Likewise, many of their ancestors DID die while those piles of metal were accumulating and they are using them just as their ancestors did. Mike Attached Images

15th March 2005, 06:51 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	That looks like a nice blade there Mike.Nomads like the Afar do not have scrap or waste except maybe human poop,though there might be a use for even that!Thanks everyone for the replies.Tim Last edited by Tim Simmons; 15th March 2005 at 07:32 PM.

15th March 2005, 08:03 PM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Tim This is the one from my collection. Lew Attached Images

13th March 2005, 10:28 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thank you Ian, most helpful,now I have seen more examples I might feel a little better about the purchase.Tim

14th March 2005, 06:10 AM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Tim I see nothing wrong with your gile dagger. It's probably post WW2 and I think it is quite nice. I was thinking about bidding on that one but could not get a clear picture of it from the seller. Seeing that it was made from a file and forged to shape means it is a good quality blade. Hey if you really don't like it you can always find a way to get rid of it Really it is a nice find congrats! Lew

14th March 2005, 05:38 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks Lew, what with the two shades of horn and finding some good modern day photos showing how materialy poor these hardy nomad people are I am in full agreement with you.The sellers photo was very bad, I took a gamble.Tim

15th March 2005, 08:36 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I assume that beautiful and gracefull knife has parted company with its scabbard,what a shame.Tim

15th March 2005, 08:49 PM	#10
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim I still have the scabbard it's in poor condition and buried in my closet some where? Lew

16th March 2005, 09:37 AM	#11
Conogre Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 371	That's because "the secret of leather" fares far less well than "the secret of steel" grin. That's also why blades with wood or metal over wood scabbards are more often found complete, which actually is quite sad, particularly in African weaponry, moreso than any other culture/cultures that comes to mind wherein the shapes so often bear little resemblance to the blade that they house. Mike

16th March 2005, 05:43 PM	#12
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,209	The sheath on mine is not tanned leather but rather an animal skin -- it survives an even shorter time than treated leather.