Modern Sudanese 'Arm Daggers'

Atlantia · 17th July 2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumpel

The steel comes from railway sleepers, so they say.

They're forged in little outdoor ateliers in Bunj suq. Two or three smiths, each with a teenage apprentice or two. Then they're handed to two sheath-makers, one who hammers the metal sheaths together, and one who sews together leather/lizardskin sheaths. They also make fearsome-looking barbed spearheads from (I think) old steel oil drums, though unfortunately i didn't bring one back.

Officers tend to carry axes instead of daggers, as a mark of status. I'll dig up some photos.

VERY Interesting! Those are very reminiscent of Jerz axes.
Where's Stu?

Tim Simmons · 17th July 2012, 05:33 PM

Really amazing. This is the stuff that makes being here so addictive. A little scary?

Rumpel · 17th July 2012, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

A little scary?

Only the millipedes. Horrible buggers. We got bombed and shelled a few times, but SAF are awful shots, alhamdulillah.

The SPLA-N are incredible guys- a confederation of tribal warriors who believe in magic amulets, witchdoctors, sacred rivers and so on.

Watching them dance a war dance before wiping out a government garrison was quite something; a western army could roll them up in a day, but I was privileged to observe a traditional African tribal confederation at war before a) missionaries and b) modern technology could wipe them out as a culture. They won't last long, in the same form, but in so far as they still exist they're a magnificent sight. The best of luck to them.

Berkley · 17th July 2012, 07:33 PM

Wonderfully educational post and photos. Thank you.

Tim Simmons · 17th July 2012, 07:38 PM

The chaps with the axes. They are officers? Top brass? They follow a traditional form of status axe, also weapon axes. I am very keen on status weapon like objects. Do modern western military still carry swagger sticks and batons?

Tim Simmons · 17th July 2012, 07:46 PM

Sorry just read that they are officers. Here is an old 19th century status axe from the same region.

Rumpel · 17th July 2012, 10:01 PM

Tim, the odd thing (I'm ex-Army) is how they utilise the old British Army rank structure. Only Lt Cols and above are allowed axes...

They're 1/3 British Army, 1/3 Ethiopian Marxism and 1/3 tribal warfare: fascinating, doomed and utterly romantic...

Edit: axes are exactly equivalent to swagger sticks/riding crops in the British Army.

Nathaniel · 17th July 2012, 10:36 PM

Wow, Very interesting thread. It is fantastic to see traditional blades still being used versus some mass produced factory made blade in some other country on the other side of the globe. Thank you Rumpel for sharing!

kahnjar1 · 22nd July 2012, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rumpel

Tim, the odd thing (I'm ex-Army) is how they utilise the old British Army rank structure. Only Lt Cols and above are allowed axes...

They're 1/3 British Army, 1/3 Ethiopian Marxism and 1/3 tribal warfare: fascinating, doomed and utterly romantic...

Edit: axes are exactly equivalent to swagger sticks/riding crops in the British Army.

Hi Rumpel
Don't forget that the Brits held sway in the Sudan amongst most other Middle Eastern countries during colonial times. The army ranks are no doubt a "hand me down" from those times, and to be honest the "graduated" British rank structure is quite a simple one to follow.
Gene----yes I am here and those axes do look a bit like the so called Jerz. I will let our "more learned friend" take up on this...............no doubt he will..........

17th July 2012, 07:46 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	Sorry just read that they are officers. Here is an old 19th century status axe from the same region. Attached Images

17th July 2012, 05:33 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	Really amazing. This is the stuff that makes being here so addictive. A little scary?

17th July 2012, 07:33 PM	#4
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	Wonderfully educational post and photos. Thank you.

17th July 2012, 07:38 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	The chaps with the axes. They are officers? Top brass? They follow a traditional form of status axe, also weapon axes. I am very keen on status weapon like objects. Do modern western military still carry swagger sticks and batons?

17th July 2012, 10:01 PM	#7
Rumpel Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	Tim, the odd thing (I'm ex-Army) is how they utilise the old British Army rank structure. Only Lt Cols and above are allowed axes... They're 1/3 British Army, 1/3 Ethiopian Marxism and 1/3 tribal warfare: fascinating, doomed and utterly romantic... Edit: axes are exactly equivalent to swagger sticks/riding crops in the British Army.

17th July 2012, 10:36 PM	#8
Nathaniel Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865	Wow, Very interesting thread. It is fantastic to see traditional blades still being used versus some mass produced factory made blade in some other country on the other side of the globe. Thank you Rumpel for sharing!