Shona dagger (bakatwa ?) for comment

[Sajen]

I just have won this Shona dagger: http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNUSUAL-HANDMADE-KNIFE-/170981923678?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&nma=true&si=HNE4%252B1EN2N6vtVCWJFKHEVB1kbg%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
Would like to read what you think about, age, quality...

Thank you in advance,

Detlef

[Lew]

Nice find ;) It has age to it could be early 20th century? Nice carving on the scabbard.

Here are a few from my collection for comparison.

[Sajen]

Thank you Lew, I like your two first examples.

Will post some more pictures soon as I have it in my hands!

Regards,

Detlef

[collectingspears]

Just a correction on the common mistake of calling all of these Shona knives. The area that these knives were used was not limited to the north & eastern parts of Zimbabwe. They were also used in Mozambique all along the Zambesi river including the whole of Malawi and southern Tanzania. The section where the Shona live only accounts for about 15% of the area where these knives were used. In fact the best examples and most varied types seem to be Malawian. That is where the hippo ivory ones come from. A search on the Museum of Scotland will show the great variety that were collected by Scottish missionaries in Malawi.

[colin henshaw]

Just a correction on the common mistake of calling all of these Shona knives. The area that these knives were used was not limited to the north & eastern parts of Zimbabwe. They were also used in Mozambique all along the Zambesi river including the whole of Malawi and southern Tanzania. The section where the Shona live only accounts for about 15% of the area where these knives were used. In fact the best examples and most varied types seem to be Malawian. That is where the hippo ivory ones come from. A search on the Museum of Scotland will show the great variety that were collected by Scottish missionaries in Malawi.

Useful information and a good reference, collectingspears - thanks for posting.

Regards.

[Sajen]

Yes, also from me a great "thank you". :)

Regards,

Detlef