Yvain
20th May 2024, 03:09 PM
Hi all !
Found and cleaned yesterday, this little knife has some interesting history attached to it !
Obviously West African, looking at the Quai Branly collection, I'm tempted to narrow it down to Guinea (https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/234985-couteau-et-gaine
(https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/234985-couteau-et-gaine)
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/365984-poignard-et-fourreau
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/223316-couteau
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/199258-couteau-et-fourreau)
Surprisingly, the pommel cap is made from a cartridge. Thanks to the markings on the rim, I was able to identify it, and it is a "balle D" 8mm mle 1896 for the French Lebel rifle (http://www.armeetpassion.com/8%20lebel-1.html).
The other unexpected element is the inscription on the blade "Souvenir de Massa Kohibogui" (Keepsake of Massa Kohibogui). The script is typical of the early 20th century. I had a hard time finding anything about this inscription, but finally I did found Massa Koibogui, a corporal from the Tirailleurs Sénégalais in Guinea, mentioned in the "Journal Officiel de la Guinée Française" in 1925 !
I'm almost certain that they are the same person : time frame, location, and the use of a french cartridge all points towards it. (And I did not find any homonym)
I honestly find it pretty amazing that an object like this could be linked to one identifiable person almost 100 years later !
Found and cleaned yesterday, this little knife has some interesting history attached to it !
Obviously West African, looking at the Quai Branly collection, I'm tempted to narrow it down to Guinea (https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/234985-couteau-et-gaine
(https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/234985-couteau-et-gaine)
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/365984-poignard-et-fourreau
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/223316-couteau
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/199258-couteau-et-fourreau)
Surprisingly, the pommel cap is made from a cartridge. Thanks to the markings on the rim, I was able to identify it, and it is a "balle D" 8mm mle 1896 for the French Lebel rifle (http://www.armeetpassion.com/8%20lebel-1.html).
The other unexpected element is the inscription on the blade "Souvenir de Massa Kohibogui" (Keepsake of Massa Kohibogui). The script is typical of the early 20th century. I had a hard time finding anything about this inscription, but finally I did found Massa Koibogui, a corporal from the Tirailleurs Sénégalais in Guinea, mentioned in the "Journal Officiel de la Guinée Française" in 1925 !
I'm almost certain that they are the same person : time frame, location, and the use of a french cartridge all points towards it. (And I did not find any homonym)
I honestly find it pretty amazing that an object like this could be linked to one identifiable person almost 100 years later !