Telek ?

Jim McDougall · 4th June 2019, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockelk

S'bula, I looked up the Subla and found a reference describing the use of a label (sp.) bayonet. the bayonet was a four sided device some what like an epee. as such, it would not have two fullers. the description was in French s. I don't understand French, so , I have to plead ignorance.
With Regards, rm

Getting to the S'boula topic, this is of course a Moroccan dagger which while having nothing to do with Tuareg arm daggers (telek) technically, do share the characteristic of being host to many forms of foreign blades, often European.

As the French were the primary occupying power in much of the Sahara, and into Morocco, their weapons furnished many indigenous weapons with blades.
The French bayonets most commonly found their way into the variations of s'boula and djenoui (janwi) and were usually,
The M1886 Lebel bayonet (shown below with light hilt)
The M1874 gras bayonet (shown with wood hilt and steel pommel)

The Lebel had a cruciform cross section resembling a fencing epee.

There were no set 'rules' or preferences but throughout Berber regions (the broader scope of tribal Sahara) the narrow, armor piercing (needle) points seem predominant in many of the edged weapons.

In the plate showing s'boula among Moroccan weapons, those between them are of course koummya. A koummya with straight blade is termed a janwi as mentioned earlier.

The images of the 'H' shape hilt daggers are s'boula (the image of the man with gun is wearing one), and these shown are of course with cut down sword blades.

Jim McDougall · 4th June 2019, 08:42 AM

Just looking through Briggs further (1965, op. cit. p.43), and found this on the TELEK:
It is noted that these telek from Ajjar, where the Tuareg's main sources of European trade goods were Tunis and Tripoli to the north. Therefore it is not surprising that the only known European blades mounted in these arm daggers appear to be of North Italian origin.
I have reattached the two illustration plates from Briggs, in which these are both mounted with Milanese blades.

It describes these daggers as worn along the inner side of the forearm with the hilt downward in a kind of 'quick draw' fashion.

It is further notes that many of these ended up in Morocco through returning Camel Corps officers. Briggs (1909-1975) was a Harvard anthropologist who wrote this in 1965, but had been stationed in Algeria with Strategic Services during WWII.

Again, the map shows the Ajjar region in red circle.

I hope this might add to the appreciation of this excellent example.

4th June 2019, 08:42 AM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,944	Just looking through Briggs further (1965, op. cit. p.43), and found this on the TELEK: It is noted that these telek from Ajjar, where the Tuareg's main sources of European trade goods were Tunis and Tripoli to the north. Therefore it is not surprising that the only known European blades mounted in these arm daggers appear to be of North Italian origin. I have reattached the two illustration plates from Briggs, in which these are both mounted with Milanese blades. It describes these daggers as worn along the inner side of the forearm with the hilt downward in a kind of 'quick draw' fashion. It is further notes that many of these ended up in Morocco through returning Camel Corps officers. Briggs (1909-1975) was a Harvard anthropologist who wrote this in 1965, but had been stationed in Algeria with Strategic Services during WWII. Again, the map shows the Ajjar region in red circle. I hope this might add to the appreciation of this excellent example. Attached Images