Mystery knife - Hadendoa?

[DaveA]

Hello all,

I've just acquired the knife you see in the pictures. The blade is reminiscent of a Hadendoa hook style blade, but the hilt is not the typical "X" shape. It is a rough piece of work and beat up by time and use, but I was curious and impulsive. And I love a mystery!

(I'm sorry the pictures are so terrible - they are the seller's.)

Any ideas?

Best Regards,

Dave A.

[Iain]

Hello all,

I've just acquired the knife you see in the pictures. The blade is reminiscent of a Hadendoa hook style blade, but the hilt is not the typical "X" shape. It is a rough piece of work and beat up by time and use, but I was curious and impulsive. And I love a mystery!

(I'm sorry the pictures are so terrible - they are the seller's.)

Any ideas?

Best Regards,

Dave A.

This looks more like a variation on a trombash from the Congo region to me than anything Sudanic.

[Martin Lubojacky]

Yes, I agree with Iain. But the style of the blade (forging/grooving) also resembles blades from the West Africa (Liberia)

[colin henshaw]

Unusual piece - look forward to seeing more images. Its not from Sudan or Congo, must be West Africa somewhere.

[Jim McDougall]

Looks like a variation of the Dahomean hwi, (Benin). Similar forms can be seen in "African Arms and Armour", Spring, and his references from the Palau Marti work on Dahomean arms.

[DaveA]

Thanks for the tip Jim. I will follow that trail and see where it leads! I should receive the item in late August. I'll post new pictures in this thread at that time.

Best regards,

Dave A

[Jim McDougall]

You bet Dave, I'll check further as Iain's note on a Congo trombash variant seems well placed as well, and looking at it further both seem likely.

[Iain]

You bet Dave, I'll check further as Iain's note on a Congo trombash variant seems well placed as well, and looking at it further both seem likely.

Having looked at it again I think Jim's suggestion probably has more merit, both in terms of the blade and the carved handle. :)