Hi
I have seen only 3 or 4 of these over the years, sometimes refered to as "trowel daggers". Here is an image of one similar to yours, from a very old sale catalogue. I've also seen specimens with leather wrapped handles.
As for usage, I don't really see them as serious weapons, more likely symbols of rank/elements of costume. Given the few collected and extant, perhaps they were worn by only senior Mahdists, such as Emirs ??
There seem to be a number of different types of Sudanese weapons that were made from "sheet steel" and with thuluth etching, often copies of Indo-Persian weapons (bichwa, haladie) also Central African throwing knives. Presumably these were all made in the Mahdist period.
Regards.
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Originally Posted by mavi1970
colin,
would you know what the use of this item would be?
rare, how rare? i have added a few pictures of the blade, sprayed some oil to give it the wet look.
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