African dagger. Completely stumped

spiral · 27th April 2015, 11:57 PM

Well I vote your know the world expert or interested student on these...., so I think its you who need too tell us where & when there from...

blue lander · 28th April 2015, 12:11 AM

You're probably right, sadly.

My theory is that this knife is Moroccan because that's what most of the auction listings say. I also believe the knives came in sets of twos because you usually see them in pairs. I also think they've been making them for a long time, and the recent ones are tourist pieces.

So what were the original ones? I wonder if they were part of some sort of Sufi or Shiite self cutting ritual. Would a copper/brass blade be more hygienic than steel? Because of rust.

ashoka · 28th April 2015, 08:08 AM

although the handle could be from several places in isolation, without having seen the blade I would have said Mauretania. The form of the blade with that bit at the bottom reminds me of some Philippine bolo type knives... so it could be from there. They also have variations of weird blade shapes and angles as this one has. However the more recent one you posted from the decoration on the aluminium sheath cover etc pretty much Mauretania. So in my opinion it is from Mauretania... or the Philippines...

probably the former

ashoka · 30th April 2015, 12:15 PM

Another similar with brass blade. Mauretania

Ian · 4th May 2015, 12:51 AM

Blu:

A friend of mine tells me that your knives are from Mauritania. He has seen many in the bazaars there. They have been around at least since WWII, probably earlier than that.

Ian.

blue lander · 4th May 2015, 01:08 AM

So Mauretania it is, then. Did he saw what they were for? Purely souvenirs?

Ian · 4th May 2015, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue lander

So Mauretania it is, then. Did he saw what they were for? Purely souvenirs?

No information about whether they were used as weapons, but he thought they were decorative items or souvenirs.

30th April 2015, 12:15 PM	#4
ashoka Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 61	Another similar with brass blade. Mauretania Attached Images

27th April 2015, 11:57 PM	#1
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Well I vote your know the world expert or interested student on these...., so I think its you who need too tell us where & when there from...

28th April 2015, 12:11 AM	#2
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	You're probably right, sadly. My theory is that this knife is Moroccan because that's what most of the auction listings say. I also believe the knives came in sets of twos because you usually see them in pairs. I also think they've been making them for a long time, and the recent ones are tourist pieces. So what were the original ones? I wonder if they were part of some sort of Sufi or Shiite self cutting ritual. Would a copper/brass blade be more hygienic than steel? Because of rust.

28th April 2015, 08:08 AM	#3
ashoka Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 61	although the handle could be from several places in isolation, without having seen the blade I would have said Mauretania. The form of the blade with that bit at the bottom reminds me of some Philippine bolo type knives... so it could be from there. They also have variations of weird blade shapes and angles as this one has. However the more recent one you posted from the decoration on the aluminium sheath cover etc pretty much Mauretania. So in my opinion it is from Mauretania... or the Philippines... probably the former

4th May 2015, 12:51 AM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,360	Blu: A friend of mine tells me that your knives are from Mauritania. He has seen many in the bazaars there. They have been around at least since WWII, probably earlier than that. Ian.

4th May 2015, 01:08 AM	#6
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	So Mauretania it is, then. Did he saw what they were for? Purely souvenirs?