The knife Tatyana shows here is most unusual. Not just the blade and handle which presumably belong to each other, I see no reason to doubt a tribal variation. The basic scabbard looks made for the knife even if the chape has been commandeered from something else. What is so intriguing is the metal work on the scabbard mouth. Most unorthodox when you bare in mind the region we are talking about, thier general view of female decorum modesty and postion in public life. The display of bare breasted ladies is very bold indeed if not fool hardy. I might suggest that what Tatyana has is an extremely rare knife from a small group of animist people that live in the area associated with these weapons. Give me an hour and I will come up with some more information. If one had no other idea, the patern of females seen on the scabbard mouth alone might remind one of designs from South America. Back shortly.
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