Shi-Havu Dagger For Comment

[Lew]

I just picked this dagger up today seems early 20th century to me 1920-30? let me know what you think?

Lew

[Gavin Nugent]

Hi Lew, I know not what it is or the age, though I posted a blade of similar style.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6201

regards

Gav

[Lew]

Gav

I think yours is from Zimbabwe while mine is Rwandan I will do some checking and get back to you on which tribe yours comes from.

I found this on the internet.

Zimbabwe Tribes: Shona approximately 75% and Ndebele approximately 18%.

Lew

[Tim Simmons]

Very nice, you pipped on this one. Early part of the 20th cent? probably.

[Lew]

Here is a good pic of an older larger example for comparison.

[Tim Simmons]

Lew might this last piece be from a different area and tribal people? There does seem to be a growing body of knifes/swords all with very similar design influences from this rather amorphous region of Central East Africa. I love that weapon.

[colin henshaw]

Hi

Sure to be from Rwanda....the catalogue of the Kigali Museum "Regards sur le Rwanda" 2003, page 109, illustrates this type of knife. (sorry I havn't got a scanning facility fixed up yet).