Middle Sepik dagger.

[Tim Simmons]

I have endulged myself with a "buy it now" a fool and thier money are soon parted.

These are ofcorse common, and one should not pay a lot for them. I fell for this example because it shows the Abelem peoples art so well. Also it is a good 15 inches long. Looking closely at the carved figure, it apears to be female. Compare the genitalia to the pictures of spirt house panels I include from "Anthony JP Meyer - Oceanic Art" representing the primordial couple. Clearly the image carved on the dagger is female. I think the form of the dagger itself is male and with the carving a represntation of the couple. This dagger was not cheap but as it carries so much art and culture I felt it was worth the extra cost. :shrug: It is rather pretty.

[Lew]

Tim

Nice carving. How old do you think it is?

[Tim Simmons]

I hope it is at least around 100 years old. It could even be earlier? It is comming from the Netherlands. western New Guinea was added to the Dutch Eastindies in th late 1880s. The strength and confidence of the work makes me feel that it is as I hope early 20th cent. It might even be made from a human femur often taken from the father of the owner which adds a little frisson. :cool:

[Sajen]

I hope it is at least around 100 years old. It could even be earlier? It is comming from the Netherlands. western New Guinea was added to the Dutch Eastindies in th late 1880s. The strength and confidence of the work makes me feel that it is as I hope early 20th cent. It might even be made from a human femur often taken from the father of the owner which adds a little frisson. :cool:


Hello Tim,

normally are the Abelam daggers made from the thighbone of the cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius, see also here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassowary).
I don't think that your dagger is old like this but I may be wrong by this.
Here for comparison my example.

Regards,

Detlef

[Tim Simmons]

That is very nice Detlef. Here are two more views, all there is un till I have it. Apparently the carved female is not unusual. Looks like it couls well be as old as the one you show.

[Sajen]

That is very nice Detlef. Here are two more views, all there is un till I have it. Apparently the carved female is not unusual. Looks like it couls well be as old as the one you show.

I don't think that my one is older, maybe a little bit, but I know that patination in such regions coming very soon. I think a coarse guess let them be from the first half until middle last century. Your dagger shows a nice patina as well.

Regards,

Detlef

[Tim Simmons]

This was what I really would have liked, from the same seller. I could see the way it was going £346 so I opted for the by it now on the dagger. Very similar to an example on display at the Berlin ethnographic museum but not quite as fine. One day I will get one.

[Sajen]

This was what I really would have liked, from the same seller. I could see the way it was going £346 so I opted for the by it now on the dagger. Very similar to an example on display at the Berlin ethnographic museum but not quite as fine. One day I will get one.

Very nice Papua axe! :) Do you know from which region?

[Tim Simmons]

It would be nice to know exactly where it is from. I do nt know. Here is the one in the Berlin museum.

[Tim Simmons]

This has turned out to be a very lovely thing. 15.5 inches and delightful work on carving and creating a jewel like feel colour and patina. I would say more jewel like than Fijian smoked whale ivory. I have been so taken by melanesian art that I craved my own ancestor spirit out of limestone.

[VANDOO]

VERY NICE ITEMS GUYS AND QUITE A LOVELY STONE CARVING WOO WOO!! :D

NOT MUCH TO ADD BUT WILL ATTEMPT TO THROW A FEW PICTURES OF NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGERS INTO THE MIX FOR REFRENCE.
THESE REPRESENT ABELEM , SEPIK AND AZMAT TRIBES. THERE ARE TWO CROCODILE JAW DAGGERS AS WELL. BEEN MEANING TO DO THIS FOR A WHILE THIS LOOKS LIKE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. :)
THE DOUBLE PRONGED VARIETY ARE SAID TO BE ABELEM
PIC 5 WITH NUMBER ON IT IS SAID TO BE SEPIK
PIC. #6 BELOW IT WITH TASSELS SAID TO BE AZMAT
MOST OF REST ARE ABELEM BUT THERE ARE FEW UNKNOWNS. AND SOME MAY NOT BE CASSOWARY BONE.

[VANDOO]

I RAN ACROSS THIS UNUSUAL VARIATION OF BONE DAGGER SAID TO BE FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA SO INCLUDE IT HERE FOR REFRENCE. ITS HARD TO JUDGE ITS SIZE SO IT MAY POSSIBLY SEE USE AS A HAIR PIN OR PICK. EITHER WAY I WOULD NOT WANT TO GET POKED WITH IT. :)

[Sajen]

Here a picture from my small bone dagger collection. The two with cassowary feathers are Asmat, the dark one is Abelam and the plain white one is from one sub tribe of Asmat, I think Kamoro but not really sure.

[VANDOO]

INTERESTING EXAMPLES, DOES THE ONE HAVE A CASSOWARY CLAW AFIXED TO THE TIP.? THE RED BEADS/ OR SEEDS ARE INTERESTING , IS THE RESIN JUST A DESIGN OR DOES IT FORM A FACE. THIS POST IS TURNING INTO A GOOD REFERENCE FOR THESE.

[Sajen]

INTERESTING EXAMPLES, DOES THE ONE HAVE A CASSOWARY CLAW AFIXED TO THE TIP.? THE RED BEADS/ OR SEEDS ARE INTERESTING , IS THE RESIN JUST A DESIGN OR DOES IT FORM A FACE. THIS POST IS TURNING INTO A GOOD REFERENCE FOR THESE.

Hello Barry,

yes it is a cassowary claw fixed with resin to the bone "blade" and the red seeds are adornment, there is no face to seen. Here some close ups.
The red seeds are Abrus precatorius used by many things from the Asmat as adornment. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrus_precatorius
The white bone dagger is either from pig bone or human bone, both bones have this white "colour".

Regards,

Detlef

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF MORE VARIATIONS OF NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGER.
THE ONE WITH THE BIRD HEAD IS ABELAM TRIBE (WOSERSA) NOT SURE IF THAT IS A AREA OR TRIBE :confused: ) IT IS 33CM. LONG
THE OTHER ONE WITH THE HUMAN FIGURE AND FEATHERS IS AZMAT AND 40CM. LONG. I KEEP BRINGING THIS POST UP TO UPDATE AND MAKE IT A DEFINITIVE REFRENCE FOR THESE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION, OBSERVATIONS OR PICTURES. :D

[Sajen]

Some more New Guinea bone daggers.

Pic. 1: Asmat
Pic. 2: Maprik, either Abelam or Wosera
Pic. 3: Sepik
Pic. 4: Sepik
Pic. 5: Kombai
Pic. 6: Sepik
Pic. 7: Asmat

[Sajen]

Sorry! :o

[VANDOO]

ANOTHER VARIATION OF SEPIK RIVER ,NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGER WITH FACE. I PREFER THE DAGGERS MADE ENTIRELY FROM BONE BUT THESE COMPOSITE DAGGERS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME AS WELL PERHAPS FOR CEREMONIAL USE??

[VANDOO]

THREE MORE EXAMPLES FOR REFRENCE.
TWO PICTURES OF A IATMUL, SEPIK BONE DAGGER WITH SCABBARD, 37CM LONG.
ONE MIDDLE SEPIK, IATMUL BONE DAGGER WITH ANCESTOR HEAD, 46CM.LONG
ONE MASSIM LIME STICK, 27CM LONG BONE. FOR COMPARISON, NOT A BONE DAGGER.

[Sajen]

Another interesting example just ended on ebay. Described as Southern highland bone dagger.

[Robert]

The only one I have in my collection. Sorry about the poor picture quality.

Robert

[Sajen]

The only one I have in my collection. Sorry about the poor picture quality.

Robert


Hi Robert,

nice one! :) Do you know from where it coming? IMHO Dani tribe, western New Guinea.

Regards,

Detlef

[Robert]

Hello Detlef,
I actually have no idea at all as to which tribe made this dagger. The person that I acquired this from found it in a box lot at an estate auction. I was hoping that by posting it here to find out more about it and I thank you for your help in identifying where it is from and who made it. Any other information on this item would be greatly appreciated.

Robert

[VANDOO]

3 PICTURES OF A ABELAM BONE DAGGER, 24 CM. LONG, POSSIBLY WITH A RESHAPED TIP.
3 PICTURES OF A LARGE ASMAT ANCESTOR FIGURE WITH CLUB, AX AND BONE DAGGER.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE TWO PICTURES OF A WESTERN DANI BONE KNIFE 22CM. LONG
ONE PICTURE OF A AZMAT BONE DAGGER WITH BARBED TIP 12.5INCHES LONG
THREE PICTURES OF A CROCODILE JAW DAGGER WITH A TOOTH AT THE TIP 20 IN CHES LONG.

[Sajen]

This one ended just by ebay, I was outbid in the last second, a rare Sentani bone dagger found in the lake.

[VANDOO]

NOT A BONE DAGGER BUT A WOOD DAGGER CLOSE TO THE TYPE. COMES FROM SCHOUTEN IS. NEW GUINEA AND IS 12.IN LONG

[VANDOO]

PICTURES OF TWO AZMAT BONE DAGGERS,
THREE PICTURES OF CROCODILE JAW DAGGER 23IN. LONG
THREE PICTURES OF CROCODILE AND CASSOWARY BONE DAGGER 24.5IN. LONG

[Sajen]

A double pointed Asmat dagger!

[Sajen]

An very old bone dagger with clay head and human hair.

[Sajen]

A Papuan Gulf bone dagger.

[VANDOO]

33cm. LONG, AZMAT, NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGER UNUSUAL SERRATED BLADE.

[VANDOO]

THREE CASSOWARY BONE TOOLS. LEFT TO RIGHT 1. EATING TOOL 2. TOOL FOR THATCHING ROOF . 3 DAGGER

[VANDOO]

TWO AZMAT DAGGERS LONGEST IS 15.5INCHES .

[VANDOO]

AZMAT DAGGER BEING WORN ,NOTE THE BARBED BLADE. I KEEP ADDING NEW MATERIAL AS FOUND TO MAKE A BETTER REFRENCE. IF ANYONE ELSE SEES SOMETHING TO ADD PLEASE DO, THE MORE REFRENCE THE BETTER.

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE SOME RECENT EXAMPLES THAT SORT OF FIT INTO THIS CATEGORY. ONE IS A BILLFISH DAGGER MADE IN NEW GUINEA, ANOTHER INCORPORATES A CASSOWARY HEAD AND ANOTHER A CASSOWARY FOOT. THE OTHER IS BONE WITH A CARVED BIRD IMAGE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LARGE NUMBER OF NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGERS LATELY AND I SUSPECT MANY IF NOT MOST ARE NOT VERY OLD.

[VANDOO]

HERE IS YET ANOTHER VARIATION. THIS IS A CROCODILE JAW AND CASSOWARY BONE COMBINATION DAGGER. THESE LATEST ITEMS I HAVE POSTED REMIND ME OF THE STRANGE SWORDS COMMING OUT OF AFRICA IN THE PAST INCORPORATING LIZARD AND CROCODILE HEADS AND FEET. 55 CM. LONG

[Sajen]

Here a very nice and old Asmat crocdile jaw dagger.

[Sajen]

And here a Kwoma tribe dagger from the Upper Sepik region.

[Sajen]

A dagger from the Prince Alexander Mountains, now in my collection.

[VANDOO]

YET ANOTHER RECENT DESIGN LOOKS MORE INDONESIAN OR BUGIS THAN NEW GUINEA BUT INFLUENCES ARE WIDESPREAD VIA TV. SO ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. :rolleyes: 31CM LONG

[Sajen]

A Sepik dagger with scabbard.

[Sajen]

Just win this nice Asmat crocodile jaw bone dagger.

[Tim Simmons]

What a fantastic thread this has turned out to be. Detlef, I have just noticed your Prince Alexander Mountians dagger. Very helpful as I have this staff that needed some sort of identification. I do not think it is a tourist piece as when I got it, it was covered in a red powder {red ochre} like red powder paint. You could not touch it without getting the powder all over yourself, not what a holiday maker wants? It is not the first item from PNG that I have covered in red powder. I have a pumice stone club that is also very messy to touch. You can see I removed the powder on this staff. A wife and a very messy red powder staining silly man thing do not mix :shrug: Love the crocodile dagger.

[VANDOO]

ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I VISITED THIS POST BUT IT HAS TURNED OUT WELL. DETLEF I REALLY LIKE YOUR CROCODILE JAW DAGGER IT IS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN. TIM I LIKE THE STAFF YOU HAVE AS WELL NICELY CARVED AND UNUSUAL WITH THE SMILING FACE AND SERIOUS FACE AT THE TOP. CONGRADULATIONS TO YOU BOTH. :D
I TOO HAVE FOUND RED POWDER AS WELL AS WHITE POWDER ON SOME ITEMS IN THE PAST. I EITHER CAREFULLY REMOVE IT OR SEAL IT WITH HAIRSPRAY DEPENDING ON THE ITEM. THIS MAY BE UNECESSARY BUT I LIKE TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY WHEN DEALING WITH UNKNOWN SUBSTANCES. RED, YELLOW AND OTHER COLORS OF OCRE ARE NOT HAZARDOUS BUT THE MAYANS AND SOME OTHERS WERE FOND OF USING A RED POWDER MADE OF MERCURY ORE TO DUST TOMBS AND THINGS. IN EGYPT HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES WERE USED IN TOMBS AS WELL. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN FOR ITS PRESERVATIVE POWERS BUT COULD PROVE DEADLY OR AT LEAST BAD FOR THE HEALTH OF THOSE WHO WERE CARELESS IN HANDELING IT.

[Sajen]

What a fantastic thread this has turned out to be. Detlef, I have just noticed your Prince Alexander Mountians dagger. Very helpful as I have this staff that needed some sort of identification. I do not think it is a tourist piece as when I got it, it was covered in a red powder {red ochre} like red powder paint. You could not touch it without getting the powder all over yourself, not what a holiday maker wants? It is not the first item from PNG that I have covered in red powder. I have a pumice stone club that is also very messy to touch. You can see I removed the powder on this staff. A wife and a very messy red powder staining silly man thing do not mix :shrug: Love the crocodile dagger.

Thank you Tim! :) And you could be right, I see also see affinities by the carvings.

Regards,

Detlef

[Sajen]

ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I VISITED THIS POST BUT IT HAS TURNED OUT WELL. DETLEF I REALLY LIKE YOUR CROCODILE JAW DAGGER IT IS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN.

Thank you Barry and I agree, it's a very good one and like usual it was a bargain: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AFRICAN-TRIBAL-KNIFE-FETISCH-POWER-FEATHERS-Native-Jungle-Primitive-/261295131994?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&nma=true&si=DcOTokOfsMtT4VWDHdq%252B%252Banpm58%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
But I think that the cover in up is newer as the jaw.

Regards,

Detlef

[VANDOO]

A GOOD PRICE INDEED. :) I ATTEMPTED TO GET A CROCODILE JAW DAGGER SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK AND SOON LOST INTEREST AND MOVED ON TO OTHER THINGS BUT PERHAPS I WILL STUMBLE ACROSS ONE AT A GOOD PRICE SOME DAY. :shrug:
I AGREE THE JAW BONE IS OLDER THAN THE DECORATIVE PARTS BUT AS THEY ARE ALL AUTHENTIC ETHINOGRAPHIC WORKMANSHIP IN ORIGIN ITS NOT A PROBLEM.

[Sajen]

A GOOD PRICE INDEED. :) I ATTEMPTED TO GET A CROCODILE JAW DAGGER SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK AND SOON LOST INTEREST AND MOVED ON TO OTHER THINGS BUT PERHAPS I WILL STUMBLE ACROSS ONE AT A GOOD PRICE SOME DAY. :shrug:
I AGREE THE JAW BONE IS OLDER THAN THE DECORATIVE PARTS BUT AS THEY ARE ALL AUTHENTIC ETHINOGRAPHIC WORKMANSHIP IN ORIGIN ITS NOT A PROBLEM.

Hope you will be successful in near future! :) And yes, I agree that the more recent "basketry" in up is no problem.

[Sajen]

Have received the crocodile jaw dagger and what a surprise! :eek: The dagger is the biggest bone dagger I ever have seen, the poor animal was a monster!
The dagger is over one kilogram in weight, my not small hand don't go complete around the bone. The dagger have a very good old touching patina but sadly an old crack in the bone. This dagger was surely a ceremonial piece.
Here some first pictures, some with a normal sized Asmat dagger side by side.

[VANDOO]

JURASSIC CROC DAGGER :D WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRIZE ITS SO OLD AND LARGE.
I SAW A OLD LOWER JAW OFF A SALTWATER CROC IN AUSTRALIA THAT WAS 4 FEET LONG, THE SKULL WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE LONGER. I WAS TOLD YOU COULD GET AN IDEA OF THE SIZE OF THE CROC IF YOU MULTIPLIED THE LEGNTH OF THE SKULL BY 7.5, SO THE CRITTER WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND 30 FEET LONG. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RECORD SIZE FOR A SALTY IS BUT THEY ARE TRULY MONSTERS TO BE FEARED. QUITE A FEW TRIBES IN NEW GUINEA CONSIDER THEM AS ANCESTORS, BUT NEVER ONES TO INVITE TO DINNER. :rolleyes:

[Sajen]

Thank you Barry! Will try to get more informations about this dagger tomorrow from a friend who is an expert bout New Guinea items.

[Tim Simmons]

Well gone Detlef. I want one. You might find this helpful.

Printed 1960.

[Sajen]

Well gone Detlef. I want one. You might find this helpful.

Printed 1960.

Thank you Tim,

very helpful! :) This confirms what I have assumed! :cool:

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE A FEW MORE DAGGERS I CAPTURED SINCE I LAST POSTED ANY HERE.
PICTURES #1 & #2 ,14INCHES LONG
#3. 14.75 IN. LONG #4 CROCODILE DAGGER, #5 CROCODILE DAGGER SAID TO BE DANI TRIBE. #6. ITAMUL DAGGER # 7. BONE DAGGER N. G.
#8 & #9. SEAMAMAL BONE DAGGER 26 IN. L SAID TO BE DANI
#10. ITAMUL PAYBACK DAGGERS
#11 & #12 ABELAM, 15 INCHES LONG

[VANDOO]

ONE MORE ABELAM DAGGER 17 IN. LONG LOOKS LIKE A PARROTS HEAD ON ONE SIDE AND THE WINGS OR PERHAPS A COCATOOS CROWN FEATHERS ARE CARVED ON THE TOP AT THE OTHER SIDE WITH A HUMAN FIGURE BELOW.

[Tim Simmons]

The parrot heads are a little more stylised on mine.

[manteris1]

here is a few more....................jimmy

[VANDOO]

THEY SAY THESE WERE USED FOR REVENGE KILLING AND LEFT STICKING IN THE SLEEPING VICTUM. JIMMYS FIRST PICTURE LOOKS LIKE IT IS SAYING "I'M AM GLAD YOU'RE DEAD YOU RASKEL YOU! :D

[Robert]

Well, here is what looks like a small crocodile jaw bone dagger. It is approximately 10 inches in length. The photos make it looks extremely bleached out but I think that it is most likely because of the flash. What do the experts think, is this croc or not?

Robert

[VANDOO]

I HAVE SEEN SOME THAT LOOK LIKE THIS MADE RECENTLY IN THE USA FROM ALIGATOR JAWS. USUALLY YOU CAN SEE WHERE POWER TOOLS, SAWS AND GRINDERS HAVE BEEN USED ON THESE. I DON'T THINK IT WAS MADE IN NEW GUINEA OR FROM CROC JAW BUT COULD BE WRONG. I DON'T KNOW IF THE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES MADE SUCH DAGGERS IN THE OLD DAYS BUT THE GATORS WERE VERY NUMEROUS THEN SO IT IS POSSIBLE.
THE GATOR JAWS AND SKULLS ARE USUALLY CLEANED WITH STRONG BLEACH SO IF IT LOOKS BLEACHED WHITE ( AS IT APEARS IN THE PICTURES) THAT IS ANOTHER THING TO LOOK FOR. THE NEW GATOR JAW KNIVES ARE NEAT BUT NOT REALLY ETHINOGRAPHIC BUT IT IS GOOD TO SEE ONE IN THIS POST FOR COMPARASON.

[Robert]

Thank you very much for your opinion and information. I will look for the telltale marks left by power tools when it arrives. If it does not show any of these signs if you would like I could send it to you for a first hand look at it and final evaluation. Thanks again.

Robert

[VANDOO]

PICTURES
#1,#2 & #3. BONE DAGGER WITH ARM BAND KWOMA TRIBE, SEPIK PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 21 CM. LONG DAGGER
#4. AZMAT BARBED DAGGER 12 INCHES LONG

[VANDOO]

#1. #2, #3. ABELAM DAGGERS
#4. CASSOWARY BONE DAGGER WITH CASSOWARY HEAD POMMEL.
#5, #6. #7. BONE DAGGER, 13.5 IN.L.
#8. BONE DAGGER

[Sajen]

An Asmat dagger from human bone!

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE A FEW MORE EXAMPLES TO ADD TO THE REFERENCE. :)
#1. THRU #5, 16.75 IN., ABELAM TRIBE,WORSA REGION, CASSOWARY BONE DAGGER,CARVED BIRD POMMEL
#6. 6 ABELAM DAGGER FROM BOOK
#7. THRU # 10, 38 CM. ABELAM DAGGER CARVED BIRD POMMEL
#11. SENTANAI, BONE DAGGER
#. 12 PICTURE OF TWO DAGGERS IN THE MUSEUM IN BUDAPEST.

[VANDOO]

TWO MORE PICTURES OF #11 SENTANAI DAGGER IN ABOVE POST.

[VANDOO]

HERE IS SOMETHING THAT SOLD RECENTLY ON EBAY. IT HAS A WOOD BLADE AND A VERTEBRAE OF SOME SORT ATTACHED TO THE TOP WITH FIBER. I SUSPECT IT IS RECENT MADE AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE A TRUE ETHNOGRAPHIC DAGGER. IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T QUALIFY AS A BONE DAGGER IN MY BOOK BUT GOOD FOR REFRENCE.
13.5 INCH LONG WOOD BLADE BONE VERTEBRAE POMMEL. SAID TO BE FROM THE CASSOWARY BUT WHO KNOWS?

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE NEW GUINEA BONE ITEMS.
#1. & #2. EAST SEPIK, ARAPESH AREA TOOL USED AT YAM FEASTS, 8 IN. LONG
. #3. & #4. ASMAT BEFORE 1950, 14.5 IN. LONG
#5 THRU #7 ABELAM, PNG BEFORE 1950, 10.5 IN. LONG

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES
#1. & #2. SHORT DAGGER 17 CM. LONG, KUBALIA AREA NEW GUINEA
#3. #4, & #5. WESTERN SEPIK, PRE-CONTACT 28 CM. LONG. POSSIBLY MADE FROM HUMAN BONE I WOULD GUESS UPPER ARM BONE (HUMERUS)
#6. TWO EXAMPLES FROM THE BUDAPEST MUSEUM CATALOG.

[VANDOO]

#1. & #2. CROCODILE JAW DAGGER 18.5 INCHES LONG
#3. ABELAM, 32.5 CM. LONG
#4, #5, & #6. ABELAM 39 CM. LONG
#7. 40 CM. LONG BOKIN BONE DAGGER

[VANDOO]

#1. 19 CM. ABELAM BONE DAGGER
#2. 25 CM. ABELAM BONE DAGGER
#3. 11 IN., 28CM. l. AZMAT BONE DAGGER
#4. 47 CM./ 18.5 INCHES AZMAT CROCODILE JAW DAGGER
#5. 38 CM. AZMAT DAGGER
#6. 40 CM. AZMAT DAGGER
#7. WOSERA BONE DAGGER, 30 CM.
#8 & #9. AITAPE BONE DAGGER, 31 CM.
#10, #11, & #12. 35 CM. BONE DAGGER MIDDLE SEPIK.

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES RECENT AND VINTAGE.
#1. AZMAT 12.5 INCHES LONG TRADITIONAL GRIP
#2., #3 & #4. RECENT ITEM WITH CASSOWARY BONE, CLAWS AND FEATHERS.
#5 & #6. RECENT CASSOWARY BONE DAGGER WITH SHEITH.
#7. THREE IATMUAL PAY BACK DAGGERS.
#8. 36 CM. LONG PNG
#9, #10 & #11. 44CM. OR 17.5 INCH CROCODILE DAGGER AZMAT PAPUA APPEARS TO BE MORE RECENT THAN SOME.

[VANDOO]

TWO MORE VARIATIONS OF NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGERS ONE 15.5 IN AND ONE 8 INCHES LONG. THE LONGER ONE COULD BE A LIME STICK. :confused:

[VANDOO]

#1. AZMAT, NORTH WEST COAST NEW GUINEA
#2. TWO NICE EXAMPLES OF THE DAGGERS WITH FACES

[VANDOO]

#1. ABELAM 7 IN. LONG
#2. ABELAM 7.5 IN. LONG
#3. THRU #6. ABELAM 16 INCHES LONG.
#7 THRU # 9. ABELAM 37 CM. LONG
#10 THRU #12. ITAMUL, 12 INCH, ORCHID FIBER HANDLE AND SHEATH.

[VANDOO]

THREE NEW GUINEA BONE DAGGERS CASSOWARY BONE GOOD AGE AND PATINA
17 CM, 20 CM AND 24 CM.

[VANDOO]

#1. 26 CM. LONG THIN DAGGER OR LIME STICK, SEPIK AREA
#2. & #3. & #4. 32 CM. LONG WOOD SEPIK DAGGER
#5. & #6. CROCODILE JAW DAGGER 19 CM. NEW GUINEA

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE EXAMPLES.
#1. & #2. 27 INCH AZMAT CASSOWARY BONE DAGGER
#3. & #4. 33 CM. CASSOWARY BONE DAGGER

[Battara]

I did not realize the full range of artwork on these daggers! :eek:

[machinist]

I picked up a couple that belong in this thread, One cassowary and one from a person. I know little about these cultures so if anyone has any opinions about the engraving styles and their origin please share. As I understand it human bone daggers were taken from the skeleton of an honored ancestor rather than the victims of cannibalism. Such daggers are quite rare, a survey off American museums found 21 out of 499 daggers to be from human bones. The human one has a deep covering of soot with the orange patina of the bone peeking through. I hope this does not offend anyone, we all draw the line somewhere and we all end up as bones

[Tim Simmons]

You got me thinking about my bone dagger, as to whether it is a human femur or not. I found this good anatomy tutorial. If you follow it carefully even though my dagger has been carved there is still enough anatomical detail left to assume it is probably the femur of the right leg. The details are in the distal femur. The medial & lateral condyles, medial adductor tubercle and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi0cOvuhsa8

[Tim Simmons]

It fits my leg.

[Sajen]

I picked up a couple that belong in this thread, One cassowary and one from a person.

May I ask from where you know that one is from human bone?

Regards,
Detlef

[Tim Simmons]

I am only sumising from the online femur anatomy lessons.

[T. Koch]

Cool dagger, Tim! I found this article exploring the difference in daggers from human vs. cssowary material: https://www.livescience.com/62399-human-cassowary-bone-daggers.html


Cheers, Thor

[Sajen]

It's not easy to differentiate between cassowary and human bone, one picture in the link Thor posted shows it good.

[Tim Simmons]

Assuming that is the be all knowledge of PNG bone daggers, which I very much doubt. :shrug:

[Sajen]

Assuming that is the be all knowledge of PNG bone daggers, which I very much doubt. :shrug:

I am as well Tim, but the top of the bones show clearly the anatomy difference. Another point is that human bones are more straight.
Another point is the feel and colour, like said, it's not easy.

Regards,
Detlef