When yesterday is collapsing today

[Dom]

ethnography and "souvenirs"
I get an opportunity to acquire an Algerian dagger,
it's not its particularities as a dagger, or even its price, which pushed me to buy it
- the price was very overpriced for this quality
- as edged-weapon, it's a "short Nimcha - "Berber Kabylia" very average quality,
rough hilt and scabbard , the blade is not too bad, in quality

it is a edged-weapon of "parade",
used for celebrations such as weddings, or as decoration,
and even as, it's the case here, "souvenir"

few history to put this issue in its historical context
It turns out that from April 13, 1875 till October 13, 1878:
- that "Battalion the 8th" was deployed in Algeria
this same "8th Battalion ", has been my regiment, where I served as NCO during 28 months of my life
the "8th Hunters of Chase-Commando" ... the "SIDI-BRAHIM"

It turns out that this dagger has engraved on the scabbard
- FORT NATIONAL 1876 [/I]- National-Fort (960 m) High Kabylie
was a real place of war built in 1857, a time that spanned almost 12 years (including buildings and barracks)
- (on 2-lines) ANSEL FRANCOIS , then SOUVENIR D'aFRIQue
with Francois as a surname, it'll be difficult to know the region he was coming from, not very symptomatic, perhaps Burgundy
- (on 2 lines) 8è B and CHASSEUR - no doubt it's "MY" battalion, the 8th of Hunter

I am aware of the few interest on this dagger
just, some interest to me in fact, because it touches me somewhere, and awakens in me memories ...
but it was fun to have them shared with you, Thanks

à +

Dom