Indian loop handle knife??

Andy Davis · 14th February 2006, 10:20 AM

Hello all
Is there a correct name for one of these?
I've been through Stone and Egerton and there doesnt seem to be one. There are similar ideas with the Bichwa daggers but they seem to usually have a curved blade.
Also any ideas on age? I had thought may be modern until I removed the varnish from the blade, which seems to be old steel and the red paint seems to be a modern addition hiding chissled engraving of rather fine grade.
Any ideas much appreciated.
Cheers
Andy

Oriental-Arms · 14th February 2006, 10:51 AM

This is a loop dagger of the TIV people from Nigeria. Probably early 20 C. For similar ones see: Dagger of the TIV people I and another one: Dagger of the TIV people II

KuKulzA28 · 29th April 2009, 03:35 AM

I wonder, did the Nigerians invent their own bichwa independently?
I wouldn't doubt it, some parts of Africa have highly underrated metal-working.

Lew · 29th April 2009, 03:57 AM

Two more for comparison. These daggers are archers daggers and are held in the draw hand blade point down.

Lew

KuKulzA28 · 29th April 2009, 04:26 AM

Interesting point! Archers' daggers...

Contrary to popular fantasy, most people were armed with more mundane weapons - simple spears, shields, smaller swords, and missile weapons. I've read somewhere that many African armies in that region used mostly archers with poisoned arrows. The chance of an archer needing to fight close-in was probably rarer than say a warrior armed with a club, sword, or spear - but if caught close-in had to be able to deploy his close-range weapon quickly... thus the loop dagger, very cool.

Was this loop-dagger style unique to that region or did this innovation find appeal in other parts of Africa?

14th February 2006, 10:20 AM	#1
Andy Davis Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: England, Northumberland Posts: 85	Indian loop handle knife?? Hello all Is there a correct name for one of these? I've been through Stone and Egerton and there doesnt seem to be one. There are similar ideas with the Bichwa daggers but they seem to usually have a curved blade. Also any ideas on age? I had thought may be modern until I removed the varnish from the blade, which seems to be old steel and the red paint seems to be a modern addition hiding chissled engraving of rather fine grade. Any ideas much appreciated. Cheers Andy Attached Images

14th February 2006, 10:51 AM	#2
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	Dagger of the TIV people This is a loop dagger of the TIV people from Nigeria. Probably early 20 C. For similar ones see: Dagger of the TIV people I and another one: Dagger of the TIV people II

29th April 2009, 03:57 AM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Two more for comparison. These daggers are archers daggers and are held in the draw hand blade point down. Lew Attached Images

29th April 2009, 03:35 AM	#3
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	I wonder, did the Nigerians invent their own bichwa independently? I wouldn't doubt it, some parts of Africa have highly underrated metal-working.

29th April 2009, 04:26 AM	#5
KuKulzA28 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: between work and sleep Posts: 731	Interesting point! Archers' daggers... Contrary to popular fantasy, most people were armed with more mundane weapons - simple spears, shields, smaller swords, and missile weapons. I've read somewhere that many African armies in that region used mostly archers with poisoned arrows. The chance of an archer needing to fight close-in was probably rarer than say a warrior armed with a club, sword, or spear - but if caught close-in had to be able to deploy his close-range weapon quickly... thus the loop dagger, very cool. Was this loop-dagger style unique to that region or did this innovation find appeal in other parts of Africa?