Is this a Tuareg dagger?

[fritz lang]

Hello,

I have a book with Tuareg daggers so I was supprised to see this very weird dagger being sold at auction that is listed as Tuareg but is not in my book. Can anyone confirm to me that this is a Tuareg dagger or if not where it comes from?

Thanks - here is the link -

http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6621965190&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3AEOIBSAA%3AUS%3A11

[drdavid]

That is one very weird puppy!!!! Does not look your average Tuareg knife, perhaps it is something special, hope one of the experts chimes in.
DrD

[Tim Simmons]

In my opinion, this is not Tuareg as in the great Saharan nomads but it is North African. I think it it Moroccan or from Tunis or Algeria, the construction and decorative forms of the scabbard are very similar to the great many Koummya type things one can find.

[Yannis]

IMHO it is a european hunting blade rehilted and decorated with North African style. Tuareg? I am not sure.

[fritz lang]

Thanks so far - I am not an expert but I have not seen these decorative forms on the Koummya daggers I have looked at. I seem to remember seeing some Tunisian dagger with some similar design but I am not sure. I am thinking maybe someone commisioned this dagger as a one of a kind thing since I cannot find anything similar in my books. Anyone with other ideas I would appreciate some enlightenment

[fritz lang]

Actually the sheath IS fairly typical of Tuareg designs but the grip is what confuses me. It seems to be an attempt at koftgari? Strange!

[Zan]

Hi everybody,

The scabbard looks like the one of a tourist-grade Tuareg dagger. But the blade and most of all the strange grip are realy not the kind of Tuareg I am used to. Very interesting.

Zan