African dagger

[lukasz]

Hello,
I would be very grateful for any opinions about this African dagger (Senegal?)

[Zan]

Hi Lucasz,

Please take a look at this thread

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1734

This knife comes probably from West Africa, and Senegal is a good guess. The handle is not typical of Bamanan knifes (Mali) or Manding ones, but there is a lot of ethnic groups in this region and the styles are often not realy defined.

Sincerely,

Zan

[Zan]

A little mistake...

Here is the link :

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1734

Zan

[lukasz]

Hi Zan,
I thought about Senegal in view of sheath with tassels, but I haven't seen handle like this so far. I am not very familiar with African edged weapon, so I am very grateful for any advices.
Lukasz

[Zan]

Hi,

Is the handle leather-covered ? Is it marqued ? It is hard to tell from your picture. Can you post a close-up of the handle ?

The leatherwork and the blade are by the way realy typical of West Africa (Senegal, Côte-D'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso...).

Sincerely,

Zan

[lukasz]

Hi Zan,

Yes, the handle is wooden and the leather-covered.
Unfortunately it isn't marqued. It has only stamped zigzags on both sides of blade, geometric pressed decorations on sheath and thin lines on handle.

best regards
Luk

[Zan]

Hi Lucasz,

Very interesting. I have no clue for this kind of handle, maybe someone else in this forum can help ?

I am prety sure that this knife is authentic, and not tourist-made. The marks on the blade are usualy seen on tourist-grade spring steel blades. But here, it seems obvious that this blade is a real localy-made one. Realy nice.

Where did you find the knife ?

Sincerely,

Zan

[lukasz]

Hi Zan,
It comes from one of the polish familiy collections, which was collected before 1939. I don't know anything more about history of this concrete item.
Best regards
Luk