Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - an old basic butcher knife , with American Indian sheath ? TRADE FUR KNIFE ?...

colin henshaw · 10th January 2022, 10:08 AM

An interesting item, I like the "primitive" appearance, gives it great character. My guess is its from the Sahara/Sahel region, perhaps Tuareg. My reasonings are :-

a) The sheath looks like from that area being goatskin tanned on one side, the red colour is fairly common. The style of the flap leather extension(s) is similar to other sheaths from the area.
b) I have seen similar small triangular cutouts to the leather on Tuareg telek dagger sheaths and some Saharan swords.
c) The knotty wood hilt.
d) The riveted plates have a Sahara/Sahel "look".

I could be wrong of course, in which country did you find the piece ?

10th January 2022, 10:08 AM	#4
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	An interesting item, I like the "primitive" appearance, gives it great character. My guess is its from the Sahara/Sahel region, perhaps Tuareg. My reasonings are :- a) The sheath looks like from that area being goatskin tanned on one side, the red colour is fairly common. The style of the flap leather extension(s) is similar to other sheaths from the area. b) I have seen similar small triangular cutouts to the leather on Tuareg telek dagger sheaths and some Saharan swords. c) The knotty wood hilt. d) The riveted plates have a Sahara/Sahel "look". I could be wrong of course, in which country did you find the piece ? Last edited by colin henshaw; 10th January 2022 at 10:21 AM.