This style of 'X-hilted' dagger is typical of the Beja Hadendoa or Beni-Amir peoples of Eritrea and the Sudan that live along the southwestern shores of the Red Sea. The wooden hilt has a black shallow faceted carving around the waist of the grip and simple geometric carvings upon the rims of the widened areas at either end of the hilt. The end of the tang extends from the hilt a short ways and an octagonal iron tang washer is present. The straight double edge blade has a low midline along with hammer marks from forging and some patches of moderate pitting. Overall length of the dagger with hilt is 11 5/8 inches (29.5 cm) and the blade alone is just under 7¾ inches (19.5 cm) in length with a weight of 4.6 ounces (132 grams). An accompanying brown leather sheath features embossed decoration on its display face along with dark brown decorative accents and a dark brown belt loop. Including the sheath the overall length is just over 12 inches (30.7 cm) with a weight of 5.9 ounces (167 grams). The current mountings suggest the last quarter of the 20th century, but the blade is likely earlier judging from the pitting and discoloration adjacent to the hilt.