Dagger for ID (Answer to follow)

[Atlantia]

Heres an interesting dagger.
I'm not going to be keeping it, but I thought you all might enjopy a little game first, before it is off on its next adventure ;)
Having seen a few similar items over the years and wondered 'is it X or Y'? This one came to me with something that clearly IDs its origins....
So I'll see if you guys can guess, and once there have been a few opinions, I'll reveal all!

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c59/Battlestar_Atlantia/IM000015-2.jpg

[Atlantia]

You lot are a lot of fun, 32 views and no guesses ;)

[kronckew]

looks like a corsican 'vendetta' dagger. always wanted one....

[Rick]

The scabbard looked N. African .. Taureg ?

[Atlantia]

The scabbard looked N. African .. Taureg ?
LOL, Bloody hell Rick, thats the giveaway! How did you manage to see it? It was up for less than a minute before I realised I'd added the wrong pic and changed it.
What a blooming spoilsport you are ;)

Edit: Here's the pic that Rick saw which really gives the game away.
I do think it's an interesting form though and this is the first one I've seen with its scabbard.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c59/Battlestar_Atlantia/IM000016.jpg

[Atlantia]

looks like a corsican 'vendetta' dagger. always wanted one....


Good idea! Yeah, I'd like one as well mate :(

[kronckew]

shows why the sheath or scabbard is an integral part of it's provenance. i thought the grip was a bit off for a vendetta, the scabbard is distinctive tho. (if original ;))

my only touareg piece is a completely different style (and i'd guess a bit bigger with it's 14.25" blade)

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/swords/touareg001_DCE.jpg

[Ronald]

Hello , dear forum-member,

I am sure, that this knife comes from Mauretania. The grip shows a very typical inlaid work of white metal in shape of rings and loops.

Some years ago I bought an interesting short stick with a dagger inside. It was used as a pointer in a Koran-school in Mauretania and shows the same decoration: A black body of unknown material (perhaps a kind of horn) decorated with inlaid copper and white metal.

Kind regards,

Ronald

[Bryan.H]

Atlantia, would you call that dagger called a Telek, or is that the generic term for any knife in the Tuareg cultural groups?

[Atlantia]

shows why the sheath or scabbard is an integral part of it's provenance. i thought the grip was a bit off for a vendetta, the scabbard is distinctive tho. (if original ;))

my only touareg piece is a completely different style (and i'd guess a bit bigger with it's 14.25" blade)

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/kronckew/swords/touareg001_DCE.jpg

Absolutely, I've seen a few similar knives over the years and although time dulls the recolection, I think now that I've seen these before minus the scabbards described as of other origins.
The scabbard is a perfect fit, so definately the original and as you say it does show how much easier the 'detective' work would be if we could always see the scabbards!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c59/Battlestar_Atlantia/IM000029.jpg

[Atlantia]

Hello , dear forum-member,

I am sure, that this knife comes from Mauretania. The grip shows a very typical inlaid work of white metal in shape of rings and loops.

Some years ago I bought an interesting short stick with a dagger inside. It was used as a pointer in a Koran-school in Mauretania and shows the same decoration: A black body of unknown material (perhaps a kind of horn) decorated with inlaid copper and white metal.

Kind regards,

Ronald

Hi Ronald.

I am completely unfamiliar with weapons described as being from Mauretania.
Do you have more information that you could share?
Thanks
Gene

[kronckew]

Hello , dear forum-member,

I am sure, that this knife comes from Mauretania. The grip shows a very typical inlaid work of white metal in shape of rings and loops.
...

Kind regards,

Ronald

if you meant mine, we discussed it's origins in this thread (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7558&highlight=touareg) which does mention it's origins are a bit broad & mauretania is not out of the question. the decorations look much like touareg ones i've seen on other knives, and jewelery attributed to the touaregs. it is a bit outside my area of collecting, so i bow to the more knowledgeable here.

[Atlantia]

Atlantia, would you call that dagger called a Telek, or is that the generic term for any knife in the Tuareg cultural groups?

Hi Bryan.
Well, I wouldn't call it a Telek to be honest. Mostly because I don't know what 'Telek' translates as? But also because when I think 'Telek' I only think of the classic shape and slight variations of it. This seems too far removed from that form to me.
Gene