GP, thank you again for adding more of these fantastic pictures!!! Really adds to the perspective in these studies!!!

Norman, thank you for adding this information on the Lebel I have, adds more intrigue to its character. We never know what these weapons have seen, or experienced through working lives. That all part of the fun, trying to figure these things out.

I really appreciate you guys keeping the thread going!

All the best
Jim

both comments reminded me of my 2nd trip to Morocco early 1980ies :
driving in a not second but sixth handed Simca from Holland to the Ourika valley, south of Marrakesh....a four day's drive.

On our way back to Sale a few parts broke..which was not that strange and could be expected☺
Waiting for spares coming from France or a Simca dealer would cost days and be expensive.
No problem as along the highway ( the Moroccan route 66) there were containers with some guys in it , repairing cars. From a simple can they manually would create excellent spare parts ( it brought us back to Holland and did function another 3 years).
This because they serve the local market cheap and being top mechanics and craftsmen: resourceful and inventive. As they and the local blacksmith have been doing for centuries.
Hence the recycling of cold weapons as well; be it broken or not or, creating daggers from swords is not that strange. and not expensive at all!!
Specially as it did function and meet the new purpose: defend against attackers or be weapon against unwelcome trespassers. A kind of remnant of 6 to 8 decades ago when the tribes bravely battled against the French and Spanish forces or even the local Sultan...

Gp, this is not only a wonderful adventure story! (very reminiscent of "Indiana Jones") but remarkable insight into the ethnographic world and character of tribal peoples. The skills and innovation of these people reveal how truly inept 'civilization' has become with its technology and advances, and they have managed survival for so many centuries.

Fantastic and exciting addition here!!! Thank you!!!

All the best,
Jim

you're welcome uncle Jim! Good to see that the worm in the bottle ta'killya left you untouched ! ☺
☺☺☺



Indeed in those days the quality of the skills of the Moroccan weapon masters were amazing...
enclosed a pic in Marrakesh's Djma el Fna ( Place of the Hanged) of me with a cobra in my neck 1980 ...
40 year ago, 40 KGs less and 40 cm less hair ( just cut it prior going there because of pratical reasons...☺)
a place where for centuries daggers were sold and still are being sold


the cold weapons in Marrakesh and the Fantasia's all along thre coast from Agadir to Salé ( the old pirate town where I used to live) were amazing in those days I spend there 1980-82!

https://www.google.com/search?client...h=874&dpr=1.13