Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


1042 - Moroccan Berber Shula Knife

The 13¼ inch (35 cm) inch long curved single edged blade with an acute point and a long unsharpened false edge on the back bears the typical style of blade decoration of this North African type and is up to 0.18 inch (0.45 cm) thick along the spine. The hilt is formed by two horn scales riveted together with four rivets and with the display face decorated with geometric designs in black and brass wire inserts. The opposite side of the hilt is of darker horn and undecorated. There is an area of loss to insect damage in the center of the back side of the hilt and also to the display face but hidden by the designs. There is also some loss of the twisted brass wire inlays. The blade shows much old corrosive staining with only mild pitting. Overall length is 19½ inches (49.7 cm) with a weight of just under 8 ounces (226 grams).




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