North African knife

SLS · 27th October 2012, 03:44 PM

Hello.

I recently acquired this knife. I strongly feel that it is North African, Algerian maybe? There is no scabbard, the blade came covered with some old deteriorated varnish, probably damar or something similar. Where it is not damaged, the blade is still very sharp.

Not so sure about the bone handle - kettle, maybe?

Also, no idea about the time when this item was made.

Comments and some more information will be highly appreciated and very useful.

thank you, in advance

katana · 27th October 2012, 07:09 PM

Hi,
almost certainly a re-hilted khodmi from algeria's bou sadi region. Likely a tourist example.

Regards David

SLS · 28th October 2012, 02:17 PM

Thank you.

I notice that, apart from being used and still sharp, the blade is a little longer than other knives from that area. Is this lenght common? And is re-hilting also a common practice? I can imagine that in this case it would be for selling purposes.

thanks, again

Atlantia · 29th October 2012, 09:16 AM

Hi SLS,

As David says, it's a khodmi.
The decoration on the hilt is consistent with the decoration on later examples and the wire binding is usual also. Which just leaves the unusual shape. Possibly made that way for some reason, even if just to look a bit 'different' to those who travel looking for an interesting take-home.

Might also be a 'local' rehilt for some reason?
An anomaly! Interesting.

Best
Gene

SLS · 29th October 2012, 09:50 AM

Hello and thanks for the feedback.
I did some research on the forum and found this http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=khodmi .
The handle looks little bit similar, in terms of shape. Anyway, interesting remark about decoration. So, earlier blades were not that decorated? And was this kind of knife used also like a dagger (thus, the dagger-like form)? I guess there are many possible answers...

thanks again

Atlantia · 29th October 2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLS

Hello and thanks for the feedback.
I did some research on the forum and found this http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=khodmi .
The handle looks little bit similar, in terms of shape. Anyway, interesting remark about decoration. So, earlier blades were not that decorated? And was this kind of knife used also like a dagger (thus, the dagger-like form)? I guess there are many possible answers...

thanks again

Hi SLS,

The (straight hilted) ones I've had with similar deocration I'd have guessed were 1950's onwards.
The one you found in the archive seems to follow the same hilt form so I'd guess that these are a specific 'sub type' and are made that way for some reason or to appeal to specific people.

Nice.

All the best
Gene

SLS · 30th October 2012, 10:52 AM

Thank you a lot.

Now, it seems more clear.
Anyway, they were doing good blades back then.

S.L.

27th October 2012, 03:44 PM	#1
SLS Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: România Posts: 17	North African knife Hello. I recently acquired this knife. I strongly feel that it is North African, Algerian maybe? There is no scabbard, the blade came covered with some old deteriorated varnish, probably damar or something similar. Where it is not damaged, the blade is still very sharp. Not so sure about the bone handle - kettle, maybe? Also, no idea about the time when this item was made. Comments and some more information will be highly appreciated and very useful. thank you, in advance Attached Images

27th October 2012, 07:09 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi, almost certainly a re-hilted khodmi from algeria's bou sadi region. Likely a tourist example. Regards David

28th October 2012, 02:17 PM	#3
SLS Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: România Posts: 17	Thank you. I notice that, apart from being used and still sharp, the blade is a little longer than other knives from that area. Is this lenght common? And is re-hilting also a common practice? I can imagine that in this case it would be for selling purposes. thanks, again

29th October 2012, 09:16 AM	#4
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi SLS, As David says, it's a khodmi. The decoration on the hilt is consistent with the decoration on later examples and the wire binding is usual also. Which just leaves the unusual shape. Possibly made that way for some reason, even if just to look a bit 'different' to those who travel looking for an interesting take-home. Might also be a 'local' rehilt for some reason? An anomaly! Interesting. Best Gene

29th October 2012, 09:50 AM	#5
SLS Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: România Posts: 17	Hello and thanks for the feedback. I did some research on the forum and found this http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ghlight=khodmi . The handle looks little bit similar, in terms of shape. Anyway, interesting remark about decoration. So, earlier blades were not that decorated? And was this kind of knife used also like a dagger (thus, the dagger-like form)? I guess there are many possible answers... thanks again

30th October 2012, 10:52 AM	#7
SLS Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: România Posts: 17	Thank you a lot. Now, it seems more clear. Anyway, they were doing good blades back then. S.L.