Tuareg short dagger

[AHite]

Another acquisition for me that I believe is Tuareg, or closely related. Very nicely crafted dagger, with a thick blade. Not sharpened but on the edges but has a sharp tip. The tip has been bent in a manner that I don't know if it was intended, or was some damage done later. I'm hesitant to start pounding on the blade to straighten it. The blade had a light coating of rust which I lightly cleaned to show the decorations on the surface.

The leatherwork is nicely done, similar to a telek that I own. The leather wrapped handle brings to mind the Tuareg culture's aversion to touching iron. Age-wise, probably later half of the 20th century. It's a nice, solid piece.

Regards,

Andrew

[Rick]

The wiggle at the tip looks it was done on purpose, unless it has already had previous attempts to take the accidental kink out.

[Pertinax]

Hi Andrew!

Interesting dagger, look at similar here:
https://swordsantiqueweapons.com/s880_full.html

Best wishes,
Yuri

[Tim Simmons]

These I believe are more Mende and west coast rather than Tuareg. Your telek is in an atypical scabbard. The scabbard looks to have a belt loop. Some from my collection. I only have the red coloured one now. Not old but rather clean and nice.

[Changdao]

These daggers seem to have been used by a wide range of peoples in Senegambia and modern Mali. It could be Wolof, Mandinka, Fulani...