Some new finds in the last month, African

[Warren McQ]

Hi all, Well, after a long dry spell I've picked up a couple of African knives that seem interesting.
One is Sudanese and the other from the northwest or north of Africa, not sure what country.
I can't recognize the writing on the blade of the Sudanese knife so maybe one of you can help out.

Let me know what you all think !!

Thanks to All and have a GREAT HOLIDAY,

Warren in Arizona

[Warren McQ]

More Pics

[junker]

Hi,
I get a similar one.
I also guess it is from northern africa, from the berber tribe which is locatet in maroc and algeria.
I cant read the inscription of mine, too, but maybe someone can help us.
Dirk

[Ascalon]

The first knife is coming from Algeria known as Khodmi or Bou Saadi Knife.
Emmanuel

[Gavin Nugent]

Interesting Warren,

The single edge knife would be well suited to the current discussion that is touching on the circle markings.
The double edged piece appears to be a Rhino horn hilt, nice finds.

Gav

[katana]

Hi Warren,
the knife Junckers shows is commonly called a Bou Saddi. I'm not so certain that your first knife would be called the same. The blade certainly seems like a typical Bou Saddi, with the characteristic wire binding and the hole in the hilt....but the 'pistol type' grip is a version I have not seen. A grip such as this would normally be on a stabbing weapon....I 've always thought of the Bou Saadi mainly as a utility knife.
The double edged knife is a typical arm dagger, widespread around the region.......... have you the scabbard with a woven loop ?

Regards David

[Warren McQ]

Thanks everyone,
Yes, I recognized the circle/dot markings discussed in the other thread and thought it interesting that these marks are so common in so many geographic areas.

Gavin, What do you see in the Sudanese knife that tells you that the handle is Rhino Horn ? I've never had anything with Rhino Horn so I have nothing to go by.

Anyone have any ideas on the age of these knives, I'm guessing 50-60 years or so, maybe more on the Sudanese knife.

Warren in Arizona

[katana]

Warren
I do not think this is Rhino horn, but wood. What makes the handle look unusual is the grain direction....normally the grain is 'run' lengthways from pommel to blade, yours seems to run across. This assumption is made on the pictures....to conclusively ID use the 'hot pin' method ....if you get a smell of burning hair it is almost certainly Rhino.

Regards David

[Gavin Nugent]

Warren
I do not think this is Rhino horn, but wood. What makes the handle look unusual is the grain direction....normally the grain is 'run' lengthways from pommel to blade, yours seems to run across. This assumption is made on the pictures....to conclusively ID use the 'hot pin' method ....if you get a smell of burning hair it is almost certainly Rhino.

Regards David

Your right, you can not determine on image alone but based on your posting here David;
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10478&highlight=rhino+knobkerrie
There are some amazing similarities.

Gav

[katana]

Your right, you can not determine on image alone but based on your posting here David;
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10478&highlight=rhino+knobkerrie
There are some amazing similarities.

Gav


G'day Gav,
I have seen pictures of a few 'small' knobkerries that looked 95% certain to be Rhino horn.....only to discover they were a very 'tight', fine grained wood :( . Hopefully, Warren will post the result of the 'hot' pin test and let us know. If Rhino horn....is must have been a piece cut 'across' the horn (cross section).....which must have been quite large in diameter, perhaps from the root/base of the horn :shrug:
My knobkerrie was made from a 'lengthway' section.

All the best
David