Taureg Telek?

katana · 24th March 2006, 11:25 AM

I have just taken a risk on this Knife, just purchased off eBay, for £20?!!

the photo's on the listing aren't too good, but I've enhanced them and posted them below. The listing states it's 'AROUND 1880' (unlikely?

) IT MEASURES APPROX 19 1/2 INCHES LONG. See what you think?

spiral · 24th March 2006, 11:38 AM

Not my field but £20 seems a good to me, doesnt look as garish as the more recent ones to my eye.

Spiral

ariel · 24th March 2006, 11:45 AM

I do not think it can be properly called Telek, but I agree: Tuareg most likely, and 19th cen sounds very plausible.
The handguard reminds me of Takouba.
Nice one!

Lew · 24th March 2006, 12:38 PM

Ariel

It's an old Hausa tribe arm dagger. Very nice!

Lew

Tim Simmons · 24th March 2006, 01:52 PM

Not bad for the money, it is a real old one.

katana · 24th March 2006, 02:33 PM

Thanks everybody,
so it looks likely to be Hausa, and with some age. Is it the style that indicates it's likely age? Am I correct in saying that the Hausa styled swords and knives have a Taureg influence?

Tim Simmons · 24th March 2006, 04:19 PM

Hello David,
Your question is a little chicken or egg as to who influences who. The hilt on your telek is very typical of Nigerian/Hausa and some Cameroon daggers. I would have a wild guess that the settled areas with more resources for manufacture probably exert the strongest influence. This is just a guess but Taureg hilts are also found in use in Hausa and other areas.

katana · 24th March 2006, 06:37 PM

Thanks Tim,
your knowledge of African weapons is a valuable resource, I appreciate your many replies to my threads.

Although this knife is probably Hausa, is it still considered a Telek? Or is it a 'Telek styled' knife?

Tim Simmons · 24th March 2006, 08:07 PM

I think arm knives covers most knives that are carried on your arm , but collectors even historians like specific names I guess.

Zan · 25th March 2006, 03:38 AM

Hi everybody,

Even more complicated, Tuareg of Mali call their arm daggers "gouzma" (or "guzma"), and their belt daggers "telak" !

Zan

katana · 25th March 2006, 04:16 PM

Received knife today, definately old, unfortunate that the scabbard is missing, or would some be made without? I would have thought a bare blade against the arm would not be a good idea. The blade has the 'characteristic' three grooves,parallel, running along both sides of the blade ( not deep enough to be classed as fullers?) which I tend to associate with the Taureg, which now I know is not necessarily true. Is there any significance with these lines? The 'arm band' is leather that is age hardened, is it OK to use leather feed to make it more supple, or is it best to leave 'as is'?
Nevertheless, it's a nice piece and I think a bargain price? (hey, I don't know, I've only recently started collecting

).Will try to post my own pics soon.

Pictures below, the brass is more tarnished than photo's suggest

24th March 2006, 11:25 AM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Taureg Telek? I have just taken a risk on this Knife, just purchased off eBay, for £20?!! the photo's on the listing aren't too good, but I've enhanced them and posted them below. The listing states it's 'AROUND 1880' (unlikely? ) IT MEASURES APPROX 19 1/2 INCHES LONG. See what you think? Attached Images

25th March 2006, 04:16 PM	#11
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Received knife today, definately old, unfortunate that the scabbard is missing, or would some be made without? I would have thought a bare blade against the arm would not be a good idea. The blade has the 'characteristic' three grooves,parallel, running along both sides of the blade ( not deep enough to be classed as fullers?) which I tend to associate with the Taureg, which now I know is not necessarily true. Is there any significance with these lines? The 'arm band' is leather that is age hardened, is it OK to use leather feed to make it more supple, or is it best to leave 'as is'? Nevertheless, it's a nice piece and I think a bargain price? (hey, I don't know, I've only recently started collecting ).Will try to post my own pics soon. Pictures below, the brass is more tarnished than photo's suggest Attached Images Last edited by katana; 25th March 2006 at 09:01 PM.

24th March 2006, 11:38 AM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Not my field but £20 seems a good to me, doesnt look as garish as the more recent ones to my eye. Spiral

24th March 2006, 11:45 AM	#3
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	I do not think it can be properly called Telek, but I agree: Tuareg most likely, and 19th cen sounds very plausible. The handguard reminds me of Takouba. Nice one!

24th March 2006, 12:38 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Ariel It's an old Hausa tribe arm dagger. Very nice! Lew

24th March 2006, 01:52 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Not bad for the money, it is a real old one.

24th March 2006, 02:33 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Thanks everybody, so it looks likely to be Hausa, and with some age. Is it the style that indicates it's likely age? Am I correct in saying that the Hausa styled swords and knives have a Taureg influence?

24th March 2006, 04:19 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Hello David, Your question is a little chicken or egg as to who influences who. The hilt on your telek is very typical of Nigerian/Hausa and some Cameroon daggers. I would have a wild guess that the settled areas with more resources for manufacture probably exert the strongest influence. This is just a guess but Taureg hilts are also found in use in Hausa and other areas.

24th March 2006, 06:37 PM	#8
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Thanks Tim, your knowledge of African weapons is a valuable resource, I appreciate your many replies to my threads. Although this knife is probably Hausa, is it still considered a Telek? Or is it a 'Telek styled' knife?

24th March 2006, 08:07 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	I think arm knives covers most knives that are carried on your arm , but collectors even historians like specific names I guess.

25th March 2006, 03:38 AM	#10
Zan Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montréal, Province of Québec, Canada Posts: 46	Hi everybody, Even more complicated, Tuareg of Mali call their arm daggers "gouzma" (or "guzma"), and their belt daggers "telak" ! Zan