Where in Africa

[ariel]

In a fit of temporary insanity I once bought a kaskara with a scabbard made out of a whole baby crocodile, shriveled legs and all....

Couldn't bring myself even to look at it. Sold it at a loss.

Call me squeamish, but taxidermy is not my cup of tea. Something must be wrong with people hanging heads of animals on the wall, using tiger skins as family room rugs or petting stuffed animals.

I hate natural history museums, but as a Divine punishment for my sins in previous life, every time I go to my office I must pass by a humongous stuffed buffalo.....

[Helleri]

A whole baby croc..Like they just shoved a wooden insert down it's throat and were like "that works". Wow, lol. I don't know if that is creative, grotesque, or lazy. Maybe a bit of each.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Helleri

A whole baby croc..Like they just shoved a wooden insert down it's throat and were like "that works". Wow, lol. I don't know if that is creative, grotesque, or lazy. Maybe a bit of each.

Not quite like that as it requires a lot of skill and patience to make a scabbard from a whole reptile which will be fit for purpose and last. Lazy never. Miguel

[T. Koch]

Hi guys,

Judging from the pictures, regarding the skin used on these knifes; the squarish pieces are side/belly-pieces from some species of monitor lizard (crocodile species don't have keeled scales) . The tip of the bottom scabbard could be from a snake or monitor/lizard back piece.


Cheers, - Thor

[Iain]

This dagger is from the Sudan. See http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...es=true&page=1 as a reference.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Iain

This dagger is from the Sudan. See http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...es=true&page=1 as a reference.

Hi Ian, I agree this is fro the Sudan. I have something similar covered with lizard skin which I have always thought was Sudanese, here are some pics of it.
Miguel

[Helleri]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hi Ian, I agree this is fro the Sudan. I have something similar covered with lizard skin which I have always thought was Sudanese, here are some pics of it.
Miguel

Can you take some much closer pictures of the scales (especially the center of the handle on the stitched side)?

[T. Koch]

The last two photos of the dagger posted above are from Nile monitor, Varanus niloticus.

The ventral scales of monitors, have a linear allignment at the abdomen with no irregular scales between them. My leather ID manual is hard to get at at the moment, but I will see if I can finde some online examples later.


Cheers, - Thor

[VANDOO]

THE CRAFT OF TAXIDERMY OR OF TANNING HIDES OR MAKING GOOD LEATHER IS NEITHER EASY OR LAZY WORK. THE SKINNING ALONE CAN BE HARD WORK. IT IS LIKELY THE HIDE IS OF SECONDARY USE AS THE MEAT LIKELY WAS IN THE POT IN AFRICA SO DISCARDING THE HIDE WOULD BE WASTEFUL. THEY OFTEN DON'T HAVE MUCH SO AS A RESULT THEY DON'T WASTE MUCH UNLIKE MORE MODERN SOCIETY.

[Helleri]

Originally Posted by T. Koch

Hi guys,

Judging from the pictures, regarding the skin used on these knifes; the squarish pieces are side/belly-pieces from some species of monitor lizard (crocodile species don't have keeled scales) . The tip of the bottom scabbard could be from a snake or monitor/lizard back piece.


Cheers, - Thor

The ventral scales of monitors are separated more with small mucronate scales between them. But at the top of the scabbard there, the scales are very closely knit. The handle could be monitor I suppose (I don't see the same dermal ridges that are on the individual scale from the last piece). And I agree that the bottom of the scabbard is probably snake. But I do think the top of the handle is ventral scales from a young crocodile.

...This is pretty interesting for the mixed organic material's it's using. Aside from the possibility of the 3 different reptile skins. There is also the leather, lace, and wood. Makes me think the maker was either highly selective or had to take what they could get.