Mysterious knife number 2

[kwiatek]

The first says:

صنع في بنزرت

suni’a fi binzart

“Made in Benzart (Bizerte)”

The second says, I think:

اسلاح (السلاح) نافع للعدو دافع

a(l)-silah nafi’ li’l-‘aduww dafi’

“The weapon is useful, it repels the enemy.”

Both are in a Maghribi hand

[G. Mansfield]

I believe these examples are from the early 20th century, souk pieces, but post #1 is definitely an older piece. I have also seen similar hilt decoration with the brass circle-dot, brass wire, tacks, and coral from the late 19th century with Balkan form handles like that of Sarajevo models. Attached is an example that I received earlier this year very similar to the examples previously posted above.

-Geoff

[G. Mansfield]

Here is a similar decorated bichaq in Balkan form next to the Tunisian dagger. Notice how the coral and brass inlays are almost identical between the two. Could the Bizerte dagger's decoration have been influenced from across the Mediterranean from Ottoman times and trade? Posted also is another closely related example from Oriental arms described as Mediterranean
/Balkan and dated 1278 (1861).

Link: http://oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=5845

-Geoff

[francantolin]

Really nice item !

Sure the shape of the hilt looks like a Sarajevo bichaq !
Maybe this one comes not from balkan but
has been made in Tunisia for east Europa market ?

[Kubur]

Both dagger and knife are from Tunsia hence the similarity...

Oriental arms is like Tirri's book extremely usefull but a lot of mistakes.

[Ian]

I picked this one up recently via online auction. Although highly decorative it is quite functional. I like these knives/daggers for their overall form and for the decoration. Unfortunately, no scabbard.

Ian.
.