Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons
FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 14th November 2023, 03:09 PM   #1
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default Sudan arm dagger restore or not?

Greetings

I just bought a Sudanese arm dagger in a good condition exept for the handle,
and the arm loop is missing.
Top part is ivory and is missing a piece of the cilindrical part, the ivory piece at the top was broken in two pieces and was poorly glued and i glued the pieces again. Question: leave it as it is or restore it.I don't think the dagger is worth the restauration cost by a proffesional restorer, so probably a diy job. The ivory bird can be used for the missing part.
There is a text on the blade, a translation is always welcome.

Best regards
Marc
Attached Images
      
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14th November 2023, 11:33 PM   #2
RobT
Member
 
RobT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 486
Default Date?

Hi Marc M,

In the first blade close-up, I think the first four characters are a date. The first three digits appear to be 198. I think the last digit may be a 3. I don't know what the rest of the characters are.

Sincerely,
RobT

Last edited by RobT; 14th November 2023 at 11:35 PM. Reason: clarification
RobT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th November 2023, 01:50 AM   #3
kahnjar1
Member
 
kahnjar1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
Posts: 2,739
Default

If you have the skill, I would definitely say restore the handle, especially since you have some ivory to do it.
Stu
kahnjar1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th November 2023, 09:50 AM   #4
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RobT View Post
Hi Marc M,

In the first blade close-up, I think the first four characters are a date. The first three digits appear to be 198. I think the last digit may be a 3. I don't know what the rest of the characters are.

Sincerely,
RobT
Hi Rob

Thank you for the translation.

Sincerely
Marc
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th November 2023, 09:57 AM   #5
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kahnjar1 View Post
If you have the skill, I would definitely say restore the handle, especially since you have some ivory to do it.
Stu
Hi Stu

Thanks for your reaction, i've never restored ivory before but i am not too clumsy, so i give it a try.

Best Regards
Marc
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th November 2023, 10:30 AM   #6
Richard G
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 405
Default

I think they are all numerals 1983/3/16

Regards
Richard
Richard G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th November 2023, 01:06 PM   #7
Kmaddock
Member
 
Kmaddock's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 543
Default

Hi
What's the plan as I cant see how the piece of ivory will be big enough for the job at hand
I found a hand fret saw is very good at cutting ivory with minimal wastage.
Regards
Ken
Kmaddock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18th November 2023, 11:53 PM   #8
RobT
Member
 
RobT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 486
Default Good Catch

Richard G,

I can see where you are going. The symbol after the first "3" is merely a slash to separate the year from the month and likewise, the symbol after the second "3" is a slash that separates the month from the day. I will keep this in mind for the future.

Sincerely,
RobT
RobT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th November 2023, 09:45 AM   #9
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kmaddock View Post
Hi
What's the plan as I cant see how the piece of ivory will be big enough for the job at hand
I found a hand fret saw is very good at cutting ivory with minimal wastage.
Regards
Ken
Hi Ken

I made a mould out of cardboard and am going to cut it out with a scroll saw for model making. the ivory bird is slightly thicker than the part to be repaired.
i will fill the cracks with ivory powder and glue and touch up.

Best regards
Marc
Attached Images
  
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19th November 2023, 09:52 AM   #10
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard G View Post
I think they are all numerals 1983/3/16

Regards
Richard
Hi Richard

Thanks for the translation of the date, it could of course mean anything.

Best regards
Marc
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th November 2023, 12:26 PM   #11
Kmaddock
Member
 
Kmaddock's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 543
Default

Hi Marc,

I see where you are going with the repair and looks like you have enough material alright.

Will you put a pin in the handle to locate the part in situ while sanding down and give solidity to the join, also how are you going to blend the new "C" shaped part into the existing.

I never like cutting the original part but the shaping of new to old looks very jagged, are you tempted to make the jagged part more uniform by cutting out some of the broken part?

Take pictures as you go along if you have a chance.

Regards,

Ken
Kmaddock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th November 2023, 03:05 PM   #12
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kmaddock View Post
Hi Marc,

I see where you are going with the repair and looks like you have enough material alright.

Will you put a pin in the handle to locate the part in situ while sanding down and give solidity to the join, also how are you going to blend the new "C" shaped part into the existing.

I never like cutting the original part but the shaping of new to old looks very jagged, are you tempted to make the jagged part more uniform by cutting out some of the broken part?

Take pictures as you go along if you have a chance.

Regards,

Ken
Hi Ken

Good idea to use a pin, i hadn't thought of that because i'm going to use two component glue and it should be strong enough. Will not take anything off the original and try to make the new piece as fit as possible and fill the rest with glue and and ivory dust. Will take pictures during the process.

Best regards
Marc
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th November 2023, 03:53 PM   #13
Kmaddock
Member
 
Kmaddock's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 543
Default

Hi

I find a pin useful in grafting parts not just for strength but it also center's the part in the same location each time when doing the shaping.

If using epoxy 2 part glue be aware it does go yellow when aged, for this reason I use wood glue for these jobs which sets clear and is easier to incorporate particulate matter to colour the filled in bits.

Wood glue is not as strong as epoxy but hopefully you wont be using the knife for its intended purpose and strength is not the main requirement.

best of luck

Ken
Kmaddock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st January 2024, 01:57 PM   #14
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

Two of my soudan armdaggers.
Attached Images
  
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st January 2024, 02:08 PM   #15
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

Post above is wrong thread.
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st January 2024, 02:51 PM   #16
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

First attempt to restore the handle, result is ok but could be better, the joints are a bit too visible. Didn't have much time and was a bit rushed. Maybe i'll try again.

Best regards
Marc
Attached Images
   
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd January 2024, 01:30 PM   #17
Interested Party
Member
 
Interested Party's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Eastern Sierra
Posts: 464
Default

Nice job. That turned out well. What adhesive did you use?

Marc M. what is the board behind the daggers called? I have seen them used by Samali people as well.
Attached Images
 
Interested Party is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd January 2024, 10:42 PM   #18
Rafngard
Member
 
Rafngard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Minneapolis,MN
Posts: 340
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Interested Party View Post
Marc M. what is the board behind the daggers called? I have seen them used by Samali people as well.
The Somali word at least is loox. Here's an example from the Met in NYC, but the Somali museum of Minnesota has a few, and I've seen them in person.

https://collections.artsmia.org/art/...-board-somalia

Thanks (or mahadsanid in af soomaaliga),
Leif
Rafngard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23rd January 2024, 08:34 AM   #19
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Interested Party View Post
Nice job. That turned out well. What adhesive did you use?

Marc M. what is the board behind the daggers called? I have seen them used by Samali people as well.
Hi Interested Party

I used industrial super glue.
It is a Quran board that children use to learn to write in the Quran school in Mali.

Best regards
Marc
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23rd January 2024, 09:34 AM   #20
Kmaddock
Member
 
Kmaddock's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Ireland
Posts: 543
Default

Nice enough job
But the fact the glue is wrong colour and the join is jagged it is about the best you were going to get away with.
The only way I would have done any better would be to just make the entire ring section/ un peen the tang and insert a new entire ring and bond to the remainder of the handle but this would have been very very invasive and not something I would willingly do.
Ivory would not match either, have you tried to stain the new ivory with something like tea or coffee, I have never done this myself just wondering can you stain ivory.
Regards
Ken
Kmaddock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23rd January 2024, 10:44 AM   #21
Marc M.
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 158
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kmaddock View Post
Nice enough job
But the fact the glue is wrong colour and the join is jagged it is about the best you were going to get away with.
The only way I would have done any better would be to just make the entire ring section/ un peen the tang and insert a new entire ring and bond to the remainder of the handle but this would have been very very invasive and not something I would willingly do.
Ivory would not match either, have you tried to stain the new ivory with something like tea or coffee, I have never done this myself just wondering can you stain ivory.
Regards
Ken
Hi Ken

It did crossed my mind to make a ring section, but as you said, too drastic.
I hoped that the joints would blend in more, as i filled the joints with ivory powder and glue. Result not so satisfactory. Tried with turmeric powder but wiped it off without results. Maybe i'll try with coffee or with tannin powder.

Best regards
Marc
Marc M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2nd February 2024, 05:40 PM   #22
Richard G
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 405
Default

When it comes to staining the efficacy of common boot polish is often overlooked.
Regards
Richard
Richard G is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.