Two north african knives

blue lander · 25th November 2013, 02:57 PM

The only vendetta knives I've seen are the modern folding knife variety. The other bousaadi knives I've seen on this forum look more optimized for use as a dagger than mine. The tip on mine is dull and rounded and it's much thicker than you'd expect from a stabbing weapon. I don't know if this was by design or just careless craftsmanship. I still don't know what to make of the weird cutting edge. It could again be careless craftsmanship, the maker only bothered to sharpen one side, but there is a very slight bevel on the "flat" side so he had to have put some effort into that.

Edit: Another thing I just realized after looking at a dozen bousaadi knives on auction sites is that they all have a hole drilled through the handle, even the cheapo tourist ones. Mine doesn't.

I've been looking and looking for similar knives to that second one, but I haven't come up with anything. Maybe it was a "fantasy" piece made for tourists.

Emanuel · 26th November 2013, 05:05 PM

Here are two Corsican and Genovese knives. These particular ones are modern. The books "Petite Histoire du Stylet Corse" and "Il Coltello Genovese" show 18th-19th century examples that seem to be the inspiration for the Bou-Saadi knives, down to the wire-wrapped faceted handle.

The tip on your example might have been worn down over time. There have been discussions on this forum of these knives with very oddly bent tips. I can imagine them used many times to open jars, paint buckets and such.

The Corsican/Genovese knives did not generally have holes in the handles, but I have seen that did, with a lanyard passed through. This would be tied around the fist. I don't know if this usage was kept in Bou-Saada.

25th November 2013, 02:57 PM	#1
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	The only vendetta knives I've seen are the modern folding knife variety. The other bousaadi knives I've seen on this forum look more optimized for use as a dagger than mine. The tip on mine is dull and rounded and it's much thicker than you'd expect from a stabbing weapon. I don't know if this was by design or just careless craftsmanship. I still don't know what to make of the weird cutting edge. It could again be careless craftsmanship, the maker only bothered to sharpen one side, but there is a very slight bevel on the "flat" side so he had to have put some effort into that. Edit: Another thing I just realized after looking at a dozen bousaadi knives on auction sites is that they all have a hole drilled through the handle, even the cheapo tourist ones. Mine doesn't. I've been looking and looking for similar knives to that second one, but I haven't come up with anything. Maybe it was a "fantasy" piece made for tourists. Last edited by blue lander; 25th November 2013 at 06:58 PM.

26th November 2013, 05:05 PM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Here are two Corsican and Genovese knives. These particular ones are modern. The books "Petite Histoire du Stylet Corse" and "Il Coltello Genovese" show 18th-19th century examples that seem to be the inspiration for the Bou-Saadi knives, down to the wire-wrapped faceted handle. The tip on your example might have been worn down over time. There have been discussions on this forum of these knives with very oddly bent tips. I can imagine them used many times to open jars, paint buckets and such. The Corsican/Genovese knives did not generally have holes in the handles, but I have seen that did, with a lanyard passed through. This would be tied around the fist. I don't know if this usage was kept in Bou-Saada. Attached Images Last edited by Emanuel; 26th November 2013 at 05:17 PM.