African dagger. Completely stumped

[Shakethetrees]

But why are the blades made of brass? It's such an inferior material for this purpose that surely it must be they were symbolic or talismanic, and not functional weapons/tools?

This is a question I've had for years since I found mine!

[fearn]

I don't know about parallel cultural development, but I do know that there are machine lathe tools that can produce that knurled handle pattern. I'd suggest common tool use, not some sort of cultural bond.

[blue lander]

The auction for this ended recently, I didn't bid on it. Is it perhaps related to this form? The hilt looks similar and the blade is copper

[spiral]

Well I vote your know the world expert or interested student on these...., so I think its you who need too tell us where & when there from...

[blue lander]

You're probably right, sadly.

My theory is that this knife is Moroccan because that's what most of the auction listings say. I also believe the knives came in sets of twos because you usually see them in pairs. I also think they've been making them for a long time, and the recent ones are tourist pieces.

So what were the original ones? I wonder if they were part of some sort of Sufi or Shiite self cutting ritual. Would a copper/brass blade be more hygienic than steel? Because of rust.

[ashoka]

although the handle could be from several places in isolation, without having seen the blade I would have said Mauretania. The form of the blade with that bit at the bottom reminds me of some Philippine bolo type knives... so it could be from there. They also have variations of weird blade shapes and angles as this one has. However the more recent one you posted from the decoration on the aluminium sheath cover etc pretty much Mauretania. So in my opinion it is from Mauretania... or the Philippines... probably the former

[ashoka]

Another similar with brass blade. Mauretania