An unusual African knife was a big surprise at auction

Ian · 9th February 2024, 07:39 AM

Hi Tim, not sure what the hilt material might be. I had thought it was wood. The hilt seems to be in two pieces. As you say, a rather modest piece that several people pursued energetically.

Tim Simmons · 9th February 2024, 10:42 AM

Hi Ian ,

I am not sure what it is however I now think it is not Rhino. Wood or bovine horn. I am starting to think it is even not that old, rather heavy file marks and no patina or attempts at a fine surface. Surely Rhino horn is prestige material and I would expect to see that in the finish. The blade does not look particularly old. Might be one of those occasions when bidding gets out of control.

werecow · 9th February 2024, 10:57 AM

The blade reminds me of the ones you see on some of the Tebu swords and daggers.

Tim Simmons · 9th February 2024, 02:41 PM

The blades are very similar and the form matches to some degree but I have a strong feeling that I have seen one before and was labeled Sudan however that is a huge area and could depend on what is included in Sudan. I have been searching all the information on African arms I have and not found anything to confirm that feeling.

G. Mansfield · 9th February 2024, 04:04 PM

Hi Ian,

The item in discussion is a Sudanese arm dagger or more appropriately a short sword worn on the arm. I do not know of the actual term as they are some of the rarer types of weaponry from Sudan. Historically they have been found in the Darfur and Kordofan regions of the Sudan along the Sahel beltway. I am still unsure what ethnic group they were used by but it could be the Fur, Baggaras, Zaghawa, or other Arabs in the Region. There may be a strong association with Chad as well due to the trans Sahel trade routes in realation to the Tebu blades.

Many examples are found in museum collections while others seem to circulate with collectors every so often, but they are not common. Most look to date from early colonial periods of German, French, Belgian and British exploration to the region from the 1870s - 1890s. Wilhelm Junker has one in his travels in Africa 1875 – 1886 attributed Darfur and Kordofan (Photo Attached.) Another passed through the former Oldman collection.

The blade itself is closely related to Tebu blades as noted by Werecow. They are of spearpoint form with usually triangular and zig-zag incisions. The hilt is in fact a fine horn. The hilt and pommel shape seems to correlate with crescent shaped hilts that can be found in Cameroon to Eritrea on the pommels with these having a spike which is sometimes broken or missing. The sheath would have been presumably crocodile, with tooled leather and a solid leather arm band. There are also similar arm daggers of the type without the crescent shaped pommel, more in the form of Sudanese arm daggers made by I think the Fur. ( I will attach photos from my collection for comparison.)

Tim, the price is not out of reason, as these are quite rare and in demand with African collectors, and with clearly a unique hilt shape. It’s a shame it is missing its sheath. Ian can you send me the original link through PM?

Geoffrey

Pertinax · 9th February 2024, 05:32 PM

Similar to this one dagger with Thuluth Inscriptions. Fur, Sudan
https://ertribal.com/index.php/triba...riptions-sudan

TVV · 9th February 2024, 06:37 PM

Geoffrey has done a great job explaining the potential interest in these short swords based on their rarity. Still, my guess is that the top bidders were after the material in the hilt.

Nutellakinesis · 10th February 2024, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

Geoffrey has done a great job explaining the potential interest in these short swords based on their rarity. Still, my guess is that the top bidders were after the material in the hilt.

That’s such a shame if true. I don’t know how someone can take a weapon that someone made and just take it apart for scraps

9th February 2024, 07:39 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,399	Hi Tim, not sure what the hilt material might be. I had thought it was wood. The hilt seems to be in two pieces. As you say, a rather modest piece that several people pursued energetically. Last edited by Ian; 10th February 2024 at 03:32 AM.

9th February 2024, 10:57 AM	#3
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 570	The blade reminds me of the ones you see on some of the Tebu swords and daggers. Attached Images

9th February 2024, 04:04 PM	#5
G. Mansfield Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Colorado Posts: 91	Hi Ian, The item in discussion is a Sudanese arm dagger or more appropriately a short sword worn on the arm. I do not know of the actual term as they are some of the rarer types of weaponry from Sudan. Historically they have been found in the Darfur and Kordofan regions of the Sudan along the Sahel beltway. I am still unsure what ethnic group they were used by but it could be the Fur, Baggaras, Zaghawa, or other Arabs in the Region. There may be a strong association with Chad as well due to the trans Sahel trade routes in realation to the Tebu blades. Many examples are found in museum collections while others seem to circulate with collectors every so often, but they are not common. Most look to date from early colonial periods of German, French, Belgian and British exploration to the region from the 1870s - 1890s. Wilhelm Junker has one in his travels in Africa 1875 – 1886 attributed Darfur and Kordofan (Photo Attached.) Another passed through the former Oldman collection. The blade itself is closely related to Tebu blades as noted by Werecow. They are of spearpoint form with usually triangular and zig-zag incisions. The hilt is in fact a fine horn. The hilt and pommel shape seems to correlate with crescent shaped hilts that can be found in Cameroon to Eritrea on the pommels with these having a spike which is sometimes broken or missing. The sheath would have been presumably crocodile, with tooled leather and a solid leather arm band. There are also similar arm daggers of the type without the crescent shaped pommel, more in the form of Sudanese arm daggers made by I think the Fur. ( I will attach photos from my collection for comparison.) Tim, the price is not out of reason, as these are quite rare and in demand with African collectors, and with clearly a unique hilt shape. It’s a shame it is missing its sheath. Ian can you send me the original link through PM? Geoffrey Attached Images

9th February 2024, 10:42 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Hi Ian , I am not sure what it is however I now think it is not Rhino. Wood or bovine horn. I am starting to think it is even not that old, rather heavy file marks and no patina or attempts at a fine surface. Surely Rhino horn is prestige material and I would expect to see that in the finish. The blade does not look particularly old. Might be one of those occasions when bidding gets out of control.

9th February 2024, 02:41 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	The blades are very similar and the form matches to some degree but I have a strong feeling that I have seen one before and was labeled Sudan however that is a huge area and could depend on what is included in Sudan. I have been searching all the information on African arms I have and not found anything to confirm that feeling.

9th February 2024, 05:32 PM	#6
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 244	Similar to this one dagger with Thuluth Inscriptions. Fur, Sudan https://ertribal.com/index.php/triba...riptions-sudan

9th February 2024, 06:37 PM	#7
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,664	Geoffrey has done a great job explaining the potential interest in these short swords based on their rarity. Still, my guess is that the top bidders were after the material in the hilt.