Need help identifying a knife

ahllaw · 16th April 2015, 04:19 PM

I recently acquired the pictured knife, but have been unable to find out anything about it. The blade and handle appear to be one piece of iron with copper, brass, and aluminum fittings applied to the handle. The sheath is leather but seems to be stitched together with a plastic like material (see the yellow green on the picture of the sheath back). The aluminum and plastic would make one think it is rather new, but a knife guy I know thinks the blade is pretty old and thought that maybe the aluminum and plastic might have been applied to the old blade around WWII. I would appreciate any help in determining age and origin. Thanks.

Lee · 16th April 2015, 07:04 PM

The pommel configuration and what looks like slight asymmetry towards the point (if the picture is not deceiving me) makes me think of an East African - Somali billao dagger.

spiral · 16th April 2015, 09:33 PM

Definably...

ahllaw · 16th April 2015, 10:40 PM

Thanks Lee & Spiral! Definitely asymmetrical. I'll take the info you guys provided and start running with it!

Anyone else who would like to chime in is more than welcome.

16th April 2015, 04:19 PM	#1
ahllaw Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 2	Need help identifying a knife I recently acquired the pictured knife, but have been unable to find out anything about it. The blade and handle appear to be one piece of iron with copper, brass, and aluminum fittings applied to the handle. The sheath is leather but seems to be stitched together with a plastic like material (see the yellow green on the picture of the sheath back). The aluminum and plastic would make one think it is rather new, but a knife guy I know thinks the blade is pretty old and thought that maybe the aluminum and plastic might have been applied to the old blade around WWII. I would appreciate any help in determining age and origin. Thanks. Attached Images

16th April 2015, 07:04 PM	#2
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 914	Billao Dagger from Somalia? The pommel configuration and what looks like slight asymmetry towards the point (if the picture is not deceiving me) makes me think of an East African - Somali billao dagger.

16th April 2015, 09:33 PM	#3
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Definably...

16th April 2015, 10:40 PM	#4
ahllaw Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 2	Thanks Lee & Spiral! Definitely asymmetrical. I'll take the info you guys provided and start running with it! Anyone else who would like to chime in is more than welcome.