Modern Sudanese 'Arm Daggers'

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..........

Tim Simmons · 22nd July 2012, 10:12 AM

Rumpel, this axe in the Pittrivers museum Oxford is assigned to the Nuer but as you can see from the ethnic map link this is rather a broad statement. Different ethnic groups may also carry very similar stvle of axe.

http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...946.8.91_b.jpg

Map

http://www1.american.edu/ted/ICE/ima...groups-map.jpg

manteris1 · 27th July 2012, 08:18 PM

rumpel, very nice post......................jimmy

David R · 27th July 2012, 10:40 PM

Rumpel, thankyou for these posts. I will look at some of the stuff at arms fairs with different eyes now.

Rumpel · 21st May 2016, 03:32 PM

Reviving this thread just to add this interesting article on sword/knife production in (government-held) Blue Nile: http://news.sudanvisiondaily.com/det...?rsnpid=203766

I wish the author had gone into more detail/taken more pictures.

Quotes:

"Q: We notice that you display different types of knives. Can you tell us about their names?
A: For sure. We have a knife that is called Baldgo and it is named on Baldgo area in Baow Locality. This knife is manufactured by Angasna people. Another knife is Balnja which originally manufactured in Kassala. It is a sort of a curved dagger. Other knives are Janabawiya which referred to Kassala and Qantara originated in Nyala in South Darfur.

Q: What are the best types of knives?
A: Abu Hankuka knife originally manufactured in Darfur is the best and the most expensive one. It cost SDG 150 and it is made of nickel.

Q: We have noticed that you sell swords as well as knives. Can you tell us a bit about these swords?
A: The most important swords we sell are Dukari Sword and Suleimani Sword in addition to Kar Sword. It must be noted that the swords are used only in ceremonies and cultural events."

17th July 2012, 10:01 PM	#1
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	#2
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!

22nd July 2012, 10:12 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,854	Rumpel, this axe in the Pittrivers museum Oxford is assigned to the Nuer but as you can see from the ethnic map link this is rather a broad statement. Different ethnic groups may also carry very similar stvle of axe. http://southernsudan.prm.ox.ac.uk/de...946.8.91_b.jpg Map http://www1.american.edu/ted/ICE/ima...groups-map.jpg

27th July 2012, 08:18 PM	#5
manteris1 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 114	rumpel, very nice post......................jimmy

27th July 2012, 10:40 PM	#6
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,120	Rumpel, thankyou for these posts. I will look at some of the stuff at arms fairs with different eyes now.

21st May 2016, 03:32 PM	#7
Rumpel Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 63	Reviving this thread just to add this interesting article on sword/knife production in (government-held) Blue Nile: http://news.sudanvisiondaily.com/det...?rsnpid=203766 I wish the author had gone into more detail/taken more pictures. Quotes: "Q: We notice that you display different types of knives. Can you tell us about their names? A: For sure. We have a knife that is called Baldgo and it is named on Baldgo area in Baow Locality. This knife is manufactured by Angasna people. Another knife is Balnja which originally manufactured in Kassala. It is a sort of a curved dagger. Other knives are Janabawiya which referred to Kassala and Qantara originated in Nyala in South Darfur. Q: What are the best types of knives? A: Abu Hankuka knife originally manufactured in Darfur is the best and the most expensive one. It cost SDG 150 and it is made of nickel. Q: We have noticed that you sell swords as well as knives. Can you tell us a bit about these swords? A: The most important swords we sell are Dukari Sword and Suleimani Sword in addition to Kar Sword. It must be noted that the swords are used only in ceremonies and cultural events."