Old Ivory-hilted Billao for Comment

Jambu · 25th May 2010, 03:52 AM

Nice example there. Here is a photo of Somali 'Dubats', a sort of Italian Colonial Era Somali Militia equipped with similar Billao... I saved this photo on my hard drive long ago and can't remember exactly where I sourced it. Wikipedia has an interesting article on Dubats.

Perhaps some Forumites know more about Dubats and this style of Billao. Was it a standard issue military item or did it denote some special rank?

laEspadaAncha · 25th May 2010, 07:35 AM

Thanks Jambu... Interesting photo, BTW. I have never thought of the (type of) knife as a military arm.

25th May 2010, 03:52 AM	#1
Jambu Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Posts: 17	Billao and Dubats Nice example there. Here is a photo of Somali 'Dubats', a sort of Italian Colonial Era Somali Militia equipped with similar Billao... I saved this photo on my hard drive long ago and can't remember exactly where I sourced it. Wikipedia has an interesting article on Dubats. Perhaps some Forumites know more about Dubats and this style of Billao. Was it a standard issue military item or did it denote some special rank? Attached Images

25th May 2010, 07:35 AM	#2
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Thanks Jambu... Interesting photo, BTW. I have never thought of the (type of) knife as a military arm.