Somalian Billao

Aurangzeb · 14th May 2005, 03:42 PM

Hi all!

Like I said earlier the handle is horn but I do not know what type of horn.Any one have any guesses on what it might be?I gussed rhino horn but I am not sure.Does the shape of the butcap/pommel have to do with a diffrent region of Somalia?(1 spike or 3 spike shapes)Does anyone know about why these spacers are put in there and why the handle and blade are so thin?Sorry for so many questions but I find the horn of africa a facenating place.

P.S.-Why does it seem that zinc or lead spacers more previlent than brass,I whould think it whould be the other way around.

tom hyle · 14th May 2005, 04:43 PM

I've wondered about that; a vague guess is some odd convenience of old trade routes and international markets; it seems to be industrial sheet metal?
As for the thin-ness of the blades, that is part of a long and widespread African tradition; it's discussed on a fairly recent thread about ceremonial African weapons. There's disagreement, but I feel it comes out of traditional and martial weapon philosophies. It's certainly typical; gilles are thicker AFAIK. The fine, hollow-bevelled forming of these thin blades entirely by handforging amazes me.
I've heard something about the spikes, but don't remember.....The guards and pommels are fitted with an obsessiveness to please any European, and are often the ground for some tiny and sometimes intricate geometric line engraving.
The sheath looks old to me, why not? The unusual feature to my experience it the belt-hanging slots; the one I had had a belt sewn to it.

Aurangzeb · 14th May 2005, 04:56 PM

Hi Tom!

I find it odd that they wear belts in Somalia.In the very good book"African Arms and Armour" on Pg.-106 picture 104 of a Souther Somali man wearing a dagger similer to mine.But why are Billao's also referrd to as Belawa's.Is it Pronaunced BILL-A-O or BILL-OH.Do you think that these spiky pommels came out of a need to impess european buyers or is it personal taste.

tom hyle · 14th May 2005, 05:54 PM

I find that multiple spellings can be a good hint to pronouncing

I don't think that wearing a belt just to be wearing one is a traditional Somali thing (?), and I think the traditional skirts just tie on. Of course, the traditional belt is sewn to the sheath, similarly to the bracelet on arm daggers, so that's different. I suspect the slots on your sheath may relate to a modern military belt for carring things on. I don't think they'd take a "web" belt (?) but leather belts with looped pouches, sheaths, etc. was previously the European standard, and may still prevail with some armies (?).

Aurangzeb · 14th May 2005, 10:08 PM

Hi Tom!

The belt loop is to small for a web belt but fits a standard leather belt nicely,(I know this only by measuring,I can not get a belt through it)I find that very interesting how a late 19th. century dagger might have a relativly modern military connection.(with all the Somalian waring clans this whould not surise me,the reuse of old weapons such as a billao.You are certainly right about the leather belts,although not used by most modern hi-tech armies the various militias and clans of africa/asia seem to be like europe's sell off yard for outdated war-gear.Like the two FT-17 light tanks the army found over in Afghanistan in a junkyard.

Oriental-Arms · 15th May 2005, 09:40 AM

Few comments if I may:

AGE:

I have had the privilege to examine the one shown above and I really think it is an old one. Probably late 19 C. or very early 20 C. My reasons for the old dating are:
- The blade has a very shallow central rib. Later blades of similar daggers are usually flat.
- The horn handle is age worn and the patina on the spiked pommel is real.
- The general feeling of a real old item (This unfortunately I can not substantiate, but after so many years in the business, one develops the proper feeling of age).
- One exception though: The soft leather back may be later, added to cover a damaged or worn back.

BELT:

Most of the Billao will come with a soft leather belt, usually tooled with some geometrical design. The belt is diagonally sewn to the front side of the scabbard. The warrior in the photo referred to by Aurangzeb, has a very similar belt. See for example (A later, 20 C. piece in this case):

GRIP MATERIAL:

Water Buffalo horn is most common. Bone and Ivory are also seen from time to time. Rhino horn is very rare. I have seen only one with a Rhino horn grip. He grip spacers are made from a variety of materials: steel, brass, bone, ivory and Zinc. Later ones will come also with Aluminum spacers.

POMMEL SPIKES

Billao will come with either one central spike or three spikes. The three spikes ones are more common and are made of steel, or Zinc in the later ones, as properly mentioned above. The one prong pommels are less common, and in many cases are seen on the better specimens, with Ivory hilts. It is usually made of silver:

Or bone or ivory:

The reasons for this variations are not very clear. I have in my article drawer an article titled: AFRICAN ARMS, SHIELDS & WEAPONS 1890 to 1940. There is no indication on when or where it was published or by whom, so I take the liberty to quote from this article few short sentences Regarding the Billao:

”… the top of the grip denotes the status of the warrior or the wearer. The single, more pointed cap ornamentation denotes a brave and courageous warrior who had killed and survived many battles; The 3 pronged cap is for a lower echelon warrior who had yet to achieve the same status…”

tom hyle · 15th May 2005, 10:25 AM

I also see some other differences with the one-spikers you show; the horn/ivory/animal part of the guard is not the same shape; it is rectangular from a side view, while on the 3 spike ones it narrows to form a short part of the handle. Also, the arrangement of the spacers is different, and seems consistantly different. Any of this may be consistant with a military rank marker, as suggested, especially when taken with the ivory. Do African water buffaloes have pale/green horns? Aren't Somalis cattle-keepers?

14th May 2005, 03:42 PM	#1
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hi all! Like I said earlier the handle is horn but I do not know what type of horn.Any one have any guesses on what it might be?I gussed rhino horn but I am not sure.Does the shape of the butcap/pommel have to do with a diffrent region of Somalia?(1 spike or 3 spike shapes)Does anyone know about why these spacers are put in there and why the handle and blade are so thin?Sorry for so many questions but I find the horn of africa a facenating place. P.S.-Why does it seem that zinc or lead spacers more previlent than brass,I whould think it whould be the other way around.

14th May 2005, 04:43 PM	#2
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I've wondered about that; a vague guess is some odd convenience of old trade routes and international markets; it seems to be industrial sheet metal? As for the thin-ness of the blades, that is part of a long and widespread African tradition; it's discussed on a fairly recent thread about ceremonial African weapons. There's disagreement, but I feel it comes out of traditional and martial weapon philosophies. It's certainly typical; gilles are thicker AFAIK. The fine, hollow-bevelled forming of these thin blades entirely by handforging amazes me. I've heard something about the spikes, but don't remember.....The guards and pommels are fitted with an obsessiveness to please any European, and are often the ground for some tiny and sometimes intricate geometric line engraving. The sheath looks old to me, why not? The unusual feature to my experience it the belt-hanging slots; the one I had had a belt sewn to it.

14th May 2005, 04:56 PM	#3
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hi Tom! I find it odd that they wear belts in Somalia.In the very good book"African Arms and Armour" on Pg.-106 picture 104 of a Souther Somali man wearing a dagger similer to mine.But why are Billao's also referrd to as Belawa's.Is it Pronaunced BILL-A-O or BILL-OH.Do you think that these spiky pommels came out of a need to impess european buyers or is it personal taste.

14th May 2005, 05:54 PM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I find that multiple spellings can be a good hint to pronouncing I don't think that wearing a belt just to be wearing one is a traditional Somali thing (?), and I think the traditional skirts just tie on. Of course, the traditional belt is sewn to the sheath, similarly to the bracelet on arm daggers, so that's different. I suspect the slots on your sheath may relate to a modern military belt for carring things on. I don't think they'd take a "web" belt (?) but leather belts with looped pouches, sheaths, etc. was previously the European standard, and may still prevail with some armies (?).

14th May 2005, 10:08 PM	#5
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hi Tom! The belt loop is to small for a web belt but fits a standard leather belt nicely,(I know this only by measuring,I can not get a belt through it)I find that very interesting how a late 19th. century dagger might have a relativly modern military connection.(with all the Somalian waring clans this whould not surise me,the reuse of old weapons such as a billao.You are certainly right about the leather belts,although not used by most modern hi-tech armies the various militias and clans of africa/asia seem to be like europe's sell off yard for outdated war-gear.Like the two FT-17 light tanks the army found over in Afghanistan in a junkyard.

15th May 2005, 09:40 AM	#6
Oriental-Arms Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Haifa, Israel Posts: 183	Few comments if I may: AGE: I have had the privilege to examine the one shown above and I really think it is an old one. Probably late 19 C. or very early 20 C. My reasons for the old dating are: - The blade has a very shallow central rib. Later blades of similar daggers are usually flat. - The horn handle is age worn and the patina on the spiked pommel is real. - The general feeling of a real old item (This unfortunately I can not substantiate, but after so many years in the business, one develops the proper feeling of age). - One exception though: The soft leather back may be later, added to cover a damaged or worn back. BELT: Most of the Billao will come with a soft leather belt, usually tooled with some geometrical design. The belt is diagonally sewn to the front side of the scabbard. The warrior in the photo referred to by Aurangzeb, has a very similar belt. See for example (A later, 20 C. piece in this case): GRIP MATERIAL: Water Buffalo horn is most common. Bone and Ivory are also seen from time to time. Rhino horn is very rare. I have seen only one with a Rhino horn grip. He grip spacers are made from a variety of materials: steel, brass, bone, ivory and Zinc. Later ones will come also with Aluminum spacers. POMMEL SPIKES Billao will come with either one central spike or three spikes. The three spikes ones are more common and are made of steel, or Zinc in the later ones, as properly mentioned above. The one prong pommels are less common, and in many cases are seen on the better specimens, with Ivory hilts. It is usually made of silver: Or bone or ivory: The reasons for this variations are not very clear. I have in my article drawer an article titled: AFRICAN ARMS, SHIELDS & WEAPONS 1890 to 1940. There is no indication on when or where it was published or by whom, so I take the liberty to quote from this article few short sentences Regarding the Billao: ”… the top of the grip denotes the status of the warrior or the wearer. The single, more pointed cap ornamentation denotes a brave and courageous warrior who had killed and survived many battles; The 3 pronged cap is for a lower echelon warrior who had yet to achieve the same status…”

15th May 2005, 10:25 AM	#7
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I also see some other differences with the one-spikers you show; the horn/ivory/animal part of the guard is not the same shape; it is rectangular from a side view, while on the 3 spike ones it narrows to form a short part of the handle. Also, the arrangement of the spacers is different, and seems consistantly different. Any of this may be consistant with a military rank marker, as suggested, especially when taken with the ivory. Do African water buffaloes have pale/green horns? Aren't Somalis cattle-keepers?