Renaissance style stiletto

Jim McDougall · 23rd February 2013, 03:10 AM

Hi Wolf, and thank you for sharing this interesting dagger. Actually, as Norman has observed, many edged weapons in North Africa were fashioned from bayonet blades. In this case, this seems to be to possibly be a Martini Henry socket bayonet, probably of 1853/71 pattern. The British had equipped much of the Egyptian army with these rifles during the campaigns with the Mahdists, and many of these weapons were captured in several of the early battles by the Mahdist forces.

Apparantly many of these early Martini Henry rifles remained with the Egyptian Camel Corps and Infantry even into the 20th century, so these bayonets certainly may have become used by tribesmen for use in daggers even beyond the Mahdist campaigns. The hilt is covered with the skin of a waran lizard it appears.

Wodimi · 23rd February 2013, 07:24 AM

thanks to all, I did't know that older bayonets had such blades. But for me it's still a riddle. If fashioned from a bayonet blade, why create the Mahdists such a handle in this shape and with a crossguard....it's total unnormal.

23rd February 2013, 03:10 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,670	Hi Wolf, and thank you for sharing this interesting dagger. Actually, as Norman has observed, many edged weapons in North Africa were fashioned from bayonet blades. In this case, this seems to be to possibly be a Martini Henry socket bayonet, probably of 1853/71 pattern. The British had equipped much of the Egyptian army with these rifles during the campaigns with the Mahdists, and many of these weapons were captured in several of the early battles by the Mahdist forces. Apparantly many of these early Martini Henry rifles remained with the Egyptian Camel Corps and Infantry even into the 20th century, so these bayonets certainly may have become used by tribesmen for use in daggers even beyond the Mahdist campaigns. The hilt is covered with the skin of a waran lizard it appears.

23rd February 2013, 07:24 AM	#2
Wodimi Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 75	thanks to all, I did't know that older bayonets had such blades. But for me it's still a riddle. If fashioned from a bayonet blade, why create the Mahdists such a handle in this shape and with a crossguard....it's total unnormal.