North African dagger ?
 

I have always thought this was a N African dagger , but wondered if any members could tell me a bit more about it such as its origin and name if it has a specific one.

An interesting one. Pommel construction and style of a takouba, blade style of a jambiya. The general style makes me think of work from the Niger region. Afraid I can't say much more. Very much looks like a jambiya influenced design though.

I've seen a number with this general type of brass hilt with a variety of blade styles.

Yes thank you Iain, I do agree , it does have a pommel much like a takouba , and indeed overall very like a jambiya in general form.

My guess would be the Somalia area, though the blade form is a bit different...

I think this belongs to the group of dagers from Somalia or maybe better eastern Ethiopia (Ogaden).

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=18201

Regards,
Martin

Even with that heavy brass grip Colin ?

Yes I can see the similarities, but the grip is so distinctive and unlike Somalia or Ethiopia to me .

Well done Martin! You are absolutely right Somalia or Erythrea.

I'd forgotten about those! Good ID Colin and Martin I think you are spot on.

You chaps certainly know a lot more about this than I do , but do any of you have any pictures illustrating a similar hilt to that of my dagger ... it just looks so different to all those you cite. I agree the scabbard , the bolster and even the blade shape is very much allied to those illustrated , but the hilt seems so distinctive I would have thought it would indicate something .

Arm Dagger - Sudan/Mahdi War?
 

The loop suggests that this is an "arm dagger". Eastern Africa Sudan etc).
See the painting (via google) "The flight of the Madhi after the Battle of Omdurman).