unknown possible weapon or ritual item?

[colin henshaw]

Hi

I have seen only 3 or 4 of these over the years, sometimes refered to as "trowel daggers". Here is an image of one similar to yours, from a very old sale catalogue. I've also seen specimens with leather wrapped handles.

As for usage, I don't really see them as serious weapons, more likely symbols of rank/elements of costume. Given the few collected and extant, perhaps they were worn by only senior Mahdists, such as Emirs ??

There seem to be a number of different types of Sudanese weapons that were made from "sheet steel" and with thuluth etching, often copies of Indo-Persian weapons (bichwa, haladie) also Central African throwing knives. Presumably these were all made in the Mahdist period.

Regards.

Originally Posted by mavi1970

colin,
would you know what the use of this item would be?
rare, how rare? i have added a few pictures of the blade, sprayed some oil to give it the wet look.