Where have I seen this African Dagger Before?

drac2k · 7th July 2021, 03:48 PM

The knife and the sheath fit like a glove; I don't think that the two are a marriage of convenience, but rather the knife was made for the sheath or the sheath was made for the knife.

Duccio · 9th July 2021, 07:24 PM

Drac2k, if you say that the sheath and the knife are made for each other, I have no reason to contradict you, but I must say that on the one hand the sheath is unequivocally Mabendi (all the characteristics of the Mabendi are present, which are also extremely particular and unique), while the knife is completely different from the Mabendi knives that are documented ... The blade resembles those of the Lobala or Monzombo knives, the handle is still different ... But African knives often escape the rigid classification that they like so much to we westerners!
In any case, congratulations, the knife is very beautiful and interesting!

drac2k · 10th July 2021, 03:05 AM

On the contrary, I wasn't doubting your comments on the different African regions you ascribed the knife and the sheath to belong to and I believe you when you state that the knife and the scabbard were not made by the same people. The point I was making was that the fit was so good that either the knife was made for the sheath or the sheath was made for the knife by two different groups of people; they just utilized what they traded for, found, or captured.
Thank you for your comments and keen insight.

7th July 2021, 03:48 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,255	The knife and the sheath fit like a glove; I don't think that the two are a marriage of convenience, but rather the knife was made for the sheath or the sheath was made for the knife.

9th July 2021, 07:24 PM	#2
Duccio Member Join Date: May 2020 Location: Florence, Italy Posts: 64	Drac2k, if you say that the sheath and the knife are made for each other, I have no reason to contradict you, but I must say that on the one hand the sheath is unequivocally Mabendi (all the characteristics of the Mabendi are present, which are also extremely particular and unique), while the knife is completely different from the Mabendi knives that are documented ... The blade resembles those of the Lobala or Monzombo knives, the handle is still different ... But African knives often escape the rigid classification that they like so much to we westerners! In any case, congratulations, the knife is very beautiful and interesting!

10th July 2021, 03:05 AM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,255	On the contrary, I wasn't doubting your comments on the different African regions you ascribed the knife and the sheath to belong to and I believe you when you state that the knife and the scabbard were not made by the same people. The point I was making was that the fit was so good that either the knife was made for the sheath or the sheath was made for the knife by two different groups of people; they just utilized what they traded for, found, or captured. Thank you for your comments and keen insight.