African (?) -- from where?

BBJW · 14th November 2017, 12:59 AM

I would guess it is a post WW2 N. African copy of an English Fairbairn knife.

Kubur · 14th November 2017, 04:01 AM

I'll say Somalian Erythrean with a scabbard influenced by Ottoman Yemen.
Early 20th c.

Battara · 14th November 2017, 04:07 AM

Have you considered the region around Syria?

motan · 14th November 2017, 09:07 AM

Hi,
Although the scabbard indeed looks Syrian, the dagger is from Ethiopia, or at least that is what I read. Of course I can not say it is not from Somalia or even Erythrea. It does looks quite new. I am adding a pic. of similar daggers I have found described as Ethiopian.

Martin Lubojacky · 14th November 2017, 11:24 AM

It is simmilar to some Ethiopian styles, nevertheless it is not from Ethiopia.
I would say (north) Sudan.

Ian · 14th November 2017, 02:01 PM

Thanks guys. I greatly appreciate the feedback. Motan, thank you for pictures of your knives, some of which have similarly engraved blades.

I'm not feeling quite so stupid now that I have seen what you all think! My initial guess was Ethiopia or Sudan based on what little I could find in my records and online. My friend will have to be satisfied with a general region rather than a more specific answer. As far as age, the knife has been cleaned recently and the blade polished, so I think it looks newer than it actually may be. That said, I don't think it is any earlier than WWII, and perhaps later.

Very helpful comments.

Ian.

roanoa · 15th November 2017, 03:57 AM

In Italy there is a town, named Scarperia, where most of the high quality knives have been made for centuries. There is a museum dedicated to locally made blades. The museum hosts blades related exhibitions. In 2016, from July 30 to October 30, the exhibition was devoted to "Blades from the Horn of Africa". Most of the blades were on loan from the Ethnographic Museum of Florence. The blades includes everyday utensils and some weapons. These items had been collected from around 1880 to 1900 by scientific expeditions in the Horn of Africa, mostly Eritrea that, at the time, was becoming an Italian colony. The knife on page 21 of the small catalogued printed at the time of the Exhibition caught my attention. It was collected, according to museum records, in Eritrea, by a Carlo Gastaldi, between 1888 and 1898. The scabbard is in brass. The blade has Kuranic writing. So, my guess would be that it came to Eritrea from across the Sudanese border. The Eritrean Beni-Amer and Beja nomads know no boundaries. Especially 100 years + ago. So the question really is: is this knife it Eritrean or Sudanese? I believe that it is the PLACE where it was found and not the place where it was made that will establish that. Otherwise, half of my Ethiopian swords would have to be called European..... Cheers, RON

14th November 2017, 09:07 AM	#4
motan Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Jerusalem Posts: 274	Hi, Although the scabbard indeed looks Syrian, the dagger is from Ethiopia, or at least that is what I read. Of course I can not say it is not from Somalia or even Erythrea. It does looks quite new. I am adding a pic. of similar daggers I have found described as Ethiopian. Attached Images

15th November 2017, 03:57 AM	#7
roanoa Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 241	In Italy there is a town, named Scarperia, where most of the high quality knives have been made for centuries. There is a museum dedicated to locally made blades. The museum hosts blades related exhibitions. In 2016, from July 30 to October 30, the exhibition was devoted to "Blades from the Horn of Africa". Most of the blades were on loan from the Ethnographic Museum of Florence. The blades includes everyday utensils and some weapons. These items had been collected from around 1880 to 1900 by scientific expeditions in the Horn of Africa, mostly Eritrea that, at the time, was becoming an Italian colony. The knife on page 21 of the small catalogued printed at the time of the Exhibition caught my attention. It was collected, according to museum records, in Eritrea, by a Carlo Gastaldi, between 1888 and 1898. The scabbard is in brass. The blade has Kuranic writing. So, my guess would be that it came to Eritrea from across the Sudanese border. The Eritrean Beni-Amer and Beja nomads know no boundaries. Especially 100 years + ago. So the question really is: is this knife it Eritrean or Sudanese? I believe that it is the PLACE where it was found and not the place where it was made that will establish that. Otherwise, half of my Ethiopian swords would have to be called European..... Cheers, RON Attached Images

14th November 2017, 12:59 AM	#1
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 228	I would guess it is a post WW2 N. African copy of an English Fairbairn knife.

14th November 2017, 04:01 AM	#2
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	I'll say Somalian Erythrean with a scabbard influenced by Ottoman Yemen. Early 20th c.

14th November 2017, 04:07 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,280	Have you considered the region around Syria?

14th November 2017, 11:24 AM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	It is simmilar to some Ethiopian styles, nevertheless it is not from Ethiopia. I would say (north) Sudan.

14th November 2017, 02:01 PM	#6
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,398	Thanks guys. I greatly appreciate the feedback. Motan, thank you for pictures of your knives, some of which have similarly engraved blades. I'm not feeling quite so stupid now that I have seen what you all think! My initial guess was Ethiopia or Sudan based on what little I could find in my records and online. My friend will have to be satisfied with a general region rather than a more specific answer. As far as age, the knife has been cleaned recently and the blade polished, so I think it looks newer than it actually may be. That said, I don't think it is any earlier than WWII, and perhaps later. Very helpful comments. Ian.