More Bega Knives

Edster · 16th December 2010, 10:23 PM

This is somewhat of an addendum to Lew's post/thread of April 2009.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9991

I'd like to share some of my items as well.

Photo 745 & 746 are the "signature" knives of the Hadendoah of Eastern Sudan. One has a cracked handle, held together with copper wire for strength and talisman affect.

Photo747 has the early traditional hook knife of the Hadendoah. The one with the fuller is much older than the other, perhaps even predates the Mahdia. Photo 748 shows the belt and is rare.

Photos 742 & 743: a shield of Eastern Sudan. New, never used and acquired from the maker in 1984 in the form of a gift. Probably rhino hide. This shield had a double thickness on the outside. The maker said at the time that big rhinos in the Dinder River area were getting hard to find, no doubt the reason for the double thickness and smaller (18 inches) than most older examples.

Lew · 16th December 2010, 11:55 PM

Ed

Beautiful examples!

Iain · 17th December 2010, 03:22 AM

Great pieces, I find the fullered example particularly fascinating. Thanks for posting them.

I'm surprised the shield industry was still going strong in the 80s, I know the big Tuareg shields pretty much died off by the 30s, sad for collectors as they are darn tough to get a hold of. I would have thought that an industry reliant on the hide of relatively rare rhinos would have also gone out of business by that point. Just goes to show what I know.

16th December 2010, 10:23 PM	#1
Edster Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 408	More Beja Knives This is somewhat of an addendum to Lew's post/thread of April 2009. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9991 I'd like to share some of my items as well. Photo 745 & 746 are the "signature" knives of the Hadendoah of Eastern Sudan. One has a cracked handle, held together with copper wire for strength and talisman affect. Photo747 has the early traditional hook knife of the Hadendoah. The one with the fuller is much older than the other, perhaps even predates the Mahdia. Photo 748 shows the belt and is rare. Photos 742 & 743: a shield of Eastern Sudan. New, never used and acquired from the maker in 1984 in the form of a gift. Probably rhino hide. This shield had a double thickness on the outside. The maker said at the time that big rhinos in the Dinder River area were getting hard to find, no doubt the reason for the double thickness and smaller (18 inches) than most older examples. Attached Images Last edited by Lew; 16th December 2010 at 11:53 PM.

16th December 2010, 11:55 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Ed Beautiful examples!

17th December 2010, 03:22 AM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,693	Great pieces, I find the fullered example particularly fascinating. Thanks for posting them. I'm surprised the shield industry was still going strong in the 80s, I know the big Tuareg shields pretty much died off by the 30s, sad for collectors as they are darn tough to get a hold of. I would have thought that an industry reliant on the hide of relatively rare rhinos would have also gone out of business by that point. Just goes to show what I know.