Sudan short sword. Qama/khinjal like blade
 

Another thing acquired today. Copy of Persian forms? David, yes these are Mahdist pieces. Blade 39cm total 52cm.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Soudan003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../Soudan004.jpg

Tim

Can you post a close up of the inscription so we can haeve it translated.


Lew

I think or hope this is the right way round and not upside down.

Tim

I think it is the right way?

Fabulous, from the same workshop. Can you post pics of the whole thing.

Hmm, that word says "Umdurman", it could be an arabic, or an african word. ;)

The date is in hijri, and translates to 1900 on the Gregorian calender.

That is very interesting. There was an arsenal at Omdurman. The knife I post has no date. I am happy in the believe that it is from the most active period of the Mahdist rebellion it fits very well with the other pieces I have. Omdurman would not be supplying the continueing Mahdist unrest post 1898.

Here ya go. I think the lower dagger is from the same shop due to the similar scroll work on the blade.

Lew

Thanks Lew I can smile again now :) :) :) :D :cool:

First of all I am not sure it is not a local invention that just by the means of similar function resembles kindjal. Second, Sudan was a part of Ottoman Empire and, despite the Sassanid claims of the opposite, had no relationship to Iranic world.
In XIXth century Sudan was very pro-Ottoman because since Muhammed Ali it became a place where circassian officers were exiled for opposing Ali or the the presence of arabs in egyptian army. During Mahdist rebellion the "government" forces clashed with Mahdist; the corner of the former was formed by so called "Mexican' veterans (i.e. the unit lead by circassians who fought in Mexico as a part of french expeditionary force). Their Ottoman loyalty was well known, so again if something it is a continuation of Ottoman kindjal-like daggers.