Interesting African Arm Dagger

drac2k · 17th August 2019, 04:08 PM

I just acquired this small arm dagger that has me puzzled as to where it comes from. I think it could be Sudanese, however, the stone on the pommel is throwing me off a little bit; I would of thought that this was a modern addition if the filigree work wasn't as nice as it is.

Bob A · 17th August 2019, 04:42 PM

I like nearly everything about this dagger very much. Actually, the filigree/stone on the pommel is the only part that jars my appreciation - and forgive me for imposing my own aesthetic standards on a different culture. The filigree work puts me in mind of Yemen, leading me to assume an origin toward the eastern coast of Africa. However, it's merely my unsupported opinion.

kahnjar1 · 17th August 2019, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob A

I like nearly everything about this dagger very much. Actually, the filigree/stone on the pommel is the only part that jars my appreciation - and forgive me for imposing my own aesthetic standards on a different culture. The filigree work puts me in mind of Yemen, leading me to assume an origin toward the eastern coast of Africa. However, it's merely my unsupported opinion.

Nice Sudanese arm dagger. I agree with Bob regarding the filigree work. It certainly looks very "Yemeni" which could well be the case as the Red Sea is between the two countries. The possibility of a piece of Yemeni filigree crossing the sea and being reused here would not IMHO be impossible.
Stu

drac2k · 18th August 2019, 03:45 AM

Thanks, it makes sense.

Kubur · 18th August 2019, 08:42 AM

Stu is right, Beja used these daggers too and they were close to the Red Sea, so Yemen is an option.

Now Africans know and do filigree and they are excellent in Chad, it's the reason why I think your dagger is from Darfur.

For my blade, in fact you have 2 kind of blades for these daggers:
the one that you posted and the one that I posted.
Some forum members are experts and they will be better than me to explain.
Here some examples from the end of the 19th c.

thinreadline · 18th August 2019, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Stu is right, Beja used these daggers too and they were close to the Red Sea, so Yemen is an option.

Now Africans know and do filigree and they are excellent in Chad, it's the reason why I think your dagger is from Darfur.

For my blade, in fact you have 2 kind of blades for these daggers:
the one that you posted and the one that I posted.
Some forum members are experts and they will be better than me to explain.
Here some examples from the end of the 19th c.

or even more blade shapes !

Kubur · 17th August 2019, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drac2k

I just acquired this small arm dagger that has me puzzled as to where it comes from. I think it could be Sudanese, however, the stone on the pommel is throwing me off a little bit; I would of thought that this was a modern addition if the filigree work wasn't as nice as it is.

No mystery for this one, a good Sudanese dagger.
Here is mine...

drac2k · 17th August 2019, 05:40 PM

Thank you, gentlemen, for your insights; I really like your dagger especially the
the unusual shape of the blade.

17th August 2019, 04:08 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,294	Interesting African Arm Dagger I just acquired this small arm dagger that has me puzzled as to where it comes from. I think it could be Sudanese, however, the stone on the pommel is throwing me off a little bit; I would of thought that this was a modern addition if the filigree work wasn't as nice as it is. Attached Images

18th August 2019, 08:42 AM	#5
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Stu is right, Beja used these daggers too and they were close to the Red Sea, so Yemen is an option. Now Africans know and do filigree and they are excellent in Chad, it's the reason why I think your dagger is from Darfur. For my blade, in fact you have 2 kind of blades for these daggers: the one that you posted and the one that I posted. Some forum members are experts and they will be better than me to explain. Here some examples from the end of the 19th c. Attached Images

17th August 2019, 04:42 PM	#2
Bob A Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 446	I like nearly everything about this dagger very much. Actually, the filigree/stone on the pommel is the only part that jars my appreciation - and forgive me for imposing my own aesthetic standards on a different culture. The filigree work puts me in mind of Yemen, leading me to assume an origin toward the eastern coast of Africa. However, it's merely my unsupported opinion.

18th August 2019, 03:45 AM	#4
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,294	Thanks, it makes sense.

17th August 2019, 05:40 PM	#8
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,294	Thank you, gentlemen, for your insights; I really like your dagger especially the the unusual shape of the blade.