East African ?? Dagger

[Terry K]

I believe this is from east Africa but need your expert knowledge. I have a chance to own it but want to know if it's a tourist piece or a local used one. Approx. 12 inch overall with blade length about 7 1/2 inches long.
Thanks in advance,
Terry

[Tim Simmons]

When I used to collect African arms I never got one of these. I think these are Cameroon? Somebody will know .

[Terry K]

Thanks Tim,
I kind of like this stuff but know nothing about it. I don't want tourist pieces if I can help it.
Terry

[Tim Simmons]

Correction Liberia. Not tourist.

[Terry K]

Thanks Tim!
I did a search and found the same style dagger in another post. Manding people in west Africa. You were correct except they are in more than Liberia.
Thanks again,
Terry

[TVV]

Terry, are you absolutely satisfied with the Mandingo attribution? To me it seems that as we know very little about the weapons of West Africa compared to other regions of the world, there is a tendency to attribute almost everything coming from that part of the world to the Mandinka, with very little actual research to confirm this is indeed the case.

Teodor

[Oriental-Arms]

Another good exemplar.
Usually refered to in many text books as Mandingo. See for example: Manfred A. Zirngibl & Alexander Kubetz, "panga na visu" page20 Fig 4

[Terry K]

Terry, are you absolutely satisfied with the Mandingo attribution? To me it seems that as we know very little about the weapons of West Africa compared to other regions of the world, there is a tendency to attribute almost everything coming from that part of the world to the Mandinka, with very little actual research to confirm this is indeed the case.

Teodor

TVV,
I'm not sure about anything as I learn something new ever day.
Thanks,
Terry

[Terry K]

Another good exemplar.
Usually refered to in many text books as Mandingo. See for example: Manfred A. Zirngibl & Alexander Kubetz, "panga na visu" page20 Fig 4

Thanks much Oriental-Arms,
That really clears it up pretty good.
Shalom,
Terry