A Sudanese dagger with a silver coin

Lee · 31st December 2004, 02:26 AM

Here is another example of one of these daggers, dated 1317 AH (= 1899 AD).

Kamil · 31st December 2004, 09:55 AM

A really beautiful piece!
Lee, is it possible to have a better photo of the inscription running across the blade? The one running along it says "al-Khartoum" and the date, so the second can be manufacturer's name? (it looks like that). Is there any inscription carved on the obverse side of the blade?

Lee · 31st December 2004, 08:46 PM

Here are the inscriptions from both sides of the 10.375 inch blade. I have rotated the inscriptions on the forte (hopefully in the correct direction). This is one of the daggers I presented at this year's Ashokan bladesmith's seminar and I believe that it was the object most favored by the knifemakers of the dozen items I showed.

Kamil · 1st January 2005, 07:22 PM

Thank you, Lee, the pictures are great, as is the dagger itself. And the inscriptions are interesting, unfortunately I do not understand well that on the reverse of the forte. Has anyone translated it?

Lee · 2nd January 2005, 03:38 PM

Thank you, Kamil, for asking the question. I bought the dagger from Oriental Arms on ebay a few years ago and remembered the description as having included a translation. Unfortunately, while I would have backed up such data, a change of computers and clutter have hidden that backup.

Your question prompted me to check the sold items archive of Oriental Arms, and here is the translation as well as better pictures.

Kamil · 2nd January 2005, 11:06 PM

Lee, the translation given at Oriental Arms (with all due respect) is not perfect. The inscription along the blade (your 1st photo, left) reads actually "forged (and not "hand made") in Omdurman". The text across the blade (the same photo, right) is enigmatic for me: the first word can be mulk ("propriety") or malik ("king", but also a name) but the second one is difficult to read. The name on the lower picture (right) is certainly not Anwar Rushdi. I would read it "Anwar Shandi", but I'm not absolutely sure of the second word's ending.

31st December 2004, 02:26 AM	#1
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Here is another example of one of these daggers, dated 1317 AH (= 1899 AD). Attached Images

31st December 2004, 08:46 PM	#3
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Here are the inscriptions from both sides of the 10.375 inch blade. I have rotated the inscriptions on the forte (hopefully in the correct direction). This is one of the daggers I presented at this year's Ashokan bladesmith's seminar and I believe that it was the object most favored by the knifemakers of the dozen items I showed. Attached Images

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31st December 2004, 09:55 AM	#2
Kamil Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Warsaw Posts: 33	A really beautiful piece! Lee, is it possible to have a better photo of the inscription running across the blade? The one running along it says "al-Khartoum" and the date, so the second can be manufacturer's name? (it looks like that). Is there any inscription carved on the obverse side of the blade?

1st January 2005, 07:22 PM	#4
Kamil Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Warsaw Posts: 33	Thank you, Lee, the pictures are great, as is the dagger itself. And the inscriptions are interesting, unfortunately I do not understand well that on the reverse of the forte. Has anyone translated it?

2nd January 2005, 03:38 PM	#5
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Thank you, Kamil, for asking the question. I bought the dagger from Oriental Arms on ebay a few years ago and remembered the description as having included a translation. Unfortunately, while I would have backed up such data, a change of computers and clutter have hidden that backup. Your question prompted me to check the sold items archive of Oriental Arms, and here is the translation as well as better pictures.

2nd January 2005, 11:06 PM	#6
Kamil Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Poland, Warsaw Posts: 33	Lee, the translation given at Oriental Arms (with all due respect) is not perfect. The inscription along the blade (your 1st photo, left) reads actually "forged (and not "hand made") in Omdurman". The text across the blade (the same photo, right) is enigmatic for me: the first word can be mulk ("propriety") or malik ("king", but also a name) but the second one is difficult to read. The name on the lower picture (right) is certainly not Anwar Rushdi. I would read it "Anwar Shandi", but I'm not absolutely sure of the second word's ending.