Mystery knife - Hadendoa?
 

Hello all,

I've just acquired the knife you see in the pictures. The blade is reminiscent of a Hadendoa hook style blade, but the hilt is not the typical "X" shape. It is a rough piece of work and beat up by time and use, but I was curious and impulsive. And I love a mystery!

(I'm sorry the pictures are so terrible - they are the seller's.)

Any ideas?

Best Regards,

Dave A.

This looks more like a variation on a trombash from the Congo region to me than anything Sudanic.

Yes, I agree with Iain. But the style of the blade (forging/grooving) also resembles blades from the West Africa (Liberia)

Unusual piece - look forward to seeing more images. Its not from Sudan or Congo, must be West Africa somewhere.

Looks like a variation of the Dahomean hwi, (Benin). Similar forms can be seen in "African Arms and Armour", Spring, and his references from the Palau Marti work on Dahomean arms.

Thank you
 

Thanks for the tip Jim. I will follow that trail and see where it leads! I should receive the item in late August. I'll post new pictures in this thread at that time.

Best regards,

Dave A

You bet Dave, I'll check further as Iain's note on a Congo trombash variant seems well placed as well, and looking at it further both seem likely.

Having looked at it again I think Jim's suggestion probably has more merit, both in terms of the blade and the carved handle. :)