African dagger for I.D.

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hi Colin and Iain,

I have never seen such dagger before. Nevertheless, the decoration on the blade reminds me Dadia, Tula, Fali, Movu..... And the iron safeguard is like on the Mandara mountains (kapsiki ?) swords. So I would also say Cameroon, province de l´Extreme-Nord.
Maybe it could be important piece of collection of sahel daggers, as I said, I have never seen such variety before.
Regards,

Martin

[Gavin Nugent]

A fine and interesting piece, congrats.

The style reminds me of the bronze Celtic anthropomorphic & antenna hilted daggers and swords.

Gavin

[Iain]

Neat to hear this might be a rare one. Some of the more typical Mandara region pieces have a similar "celtic" look Gav. I find it quite attractive.

The closest thing to this dagger I can recall is a piece of Wolf's, which I'm sure he won't mind if I link to his site.

http://www.africanarms.com/all-album...4101-93246784/

http://www.africanarms.com/all-album...38/mode/matrix

[Gavin Nugent]

Great links Iain.

When you see this design element in these weapons one has to ask why the similarities.

Gavin

[Iain]

Originally Posted by SwordsAntiqueWeapons

Great links Iain.

When you see this design element in these weapons one has to ask why the similarities.

Gavin

I've always understood it to be entirely coincidental, these are shapes fairly easy to arrive at with forge work, the spirals derived from bending the bar of material around.

There's been similar comments around any short Congo sword with a wooden handle (Romans!), or the "crusader" kaskaras. While it's always fun to speculate, history is usually a little more mundane I think.

[Wodimi]

Hi Colin,
it's a real nice example from the Jos Plateau in Nigeria. Such daggers are from the Ron, but I'm sure their neigbours have them too.
Attached also a map where they are located.
Best
Wolf

[Iain]

Originally Posted by Wodimi

Hi Colin,
it's a real nice example from the Jos Plateau in Nigeria. Such daggers are from the Ron, but I'm sure their neigbours have them too.
Attached also a map where they are located.
Best
Wolf

Very interesting Wolf, somehow I knew you would have the answer.