ID help needed

Lee · 22nd December 2004, 11:58 AM

For me the Moroccan and Tuareg influences are strong, so I'd tend to guess that it is a variant of a koummya, likely from well inland and over the Atlas mountains, where a Tuareg influence would be expected.

cylord21 · 22nd December 2004, 12:45 PM

Brass fittings and silver or white metal inlay points toward Moroccan-Tuareg influence, handle probably made of ebony.

Kamil · 22nd December 2004, 04:10 PM

As for the handle, it doesn't seem to be of ebony, the wood resembles rather mahogany. And concerning the blade, what about its almost-double curve? I must confess that I haven't seen such kind of koummaya. Does it exist?

dennee · 22nd December 2004, 07:38 PM

The blade is suggestive of a koummya, as is the pommel, albeit a very schematic representation of the Moroccan prototype.

The brass pommel cap or finial looks something like those on many Manding swords. Perhaps the source is to the south, perhaps Mali, where a lot of Tuareg weapons were produced, but near enough to Moroccan and Mandingo influences (there are Mandingoes in Mali, for example)?

Kamil · 22nd December 2004, 11:19 PM

I've had a feeling that I saw something similar, and here it is:
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000809.html
Both pieces share a common type of pommel (and of the hilt, in a way) that slightly resembles that of a gladius. Maybe this type of daggers originated from an area closer to ancient Roman military camps where Roman weapons could have been seen by manufacturers?

dennee · 23rd December 2004, 02:41 PM

here's a comparable knife just auctioned on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ADME:B:WN:US:1

Kamil · 31st December 2004, 10:00 AM

Thank you for your comments. Does anyone know which kind of scabbard was used for this particular type of dagger?

23rd December 2004, 02:41 PM	#6
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	As luck would have it... here's a comparable knife just auctioned on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ADME:B:WN:US:1

22nd December 2004, 11:58 AM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 937	For me the Moroccan and Tuareg influences are strong, so I'd tend to guess that it is a variant of a koummya, likely from well inland and over the Atlas mountains, where a Tuareg influence would be expected.

22nd December 2004, 12:45 PM	#2
cylord21 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Caracas - Venezuela Posts: 15	Brass fittings and silver or white metal inlay points toward Moroccan-Tuareg influence, handle probably made of ebony.

22nd December 2004, 04:10 PM	#3
Kamil Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Warsaw Posts: 33	As for the handle, it doesn't seem to be of ebony, the wood resembles rather mahogany. And concerning the blade, what about its almost-double curve? I must confess that I haven't seen such kind of koummaya. Does it exist?

22nd December 2004, 07:38 PM	#4
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	The blade is suggestive of a koummya, as is the pommel, albeit a very schematic representation of the Moroccan prototype. The brass pommel cap or finial looks something like those on many Manding swords. Perhaps the source is to the south, perhaps Mali, where a lot of Tuareg weapons were produced, but near enough to Moroccan and Mandingo influences (there are Mandingoes in Mali, for example)?

22nd December 2004, 11:19 PM	#5
Kamil Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Warsaw Posts: 33	I've had a feeling that I saw something similar, and here it is: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000809.html Both pieces share a common type of pommel (and of the hilt, in a way) that slightly resembles that of a gladius. Maybe this type of daggers originated from an area closer to ancient Roman military camps where Roman weapons could have been seen by manufacturers?

31st December 2004, 10:00 AM	#7
Kamil Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Warsaw Posts: 33	Thank you for your comments. Does anyone know which kind of scabbard was used for this particular type of dagger?