Shona Dagger

[Miguel]

Hello everyone, I have had this dagger for some time and have not been sure whether it is a working or tourist piece so am hoping that more knowledgeable members will enlighten me. It is a well made item having a double edged blade with central fuller with hard wood hilt and carved scabbard both of which are bound with brass wire.

O/L is 14.5 ins having a 9.875 ins blade x 1.5 ins wide reducing to a narrow point.
Thanking you in advance.
Miguel
Pics to follow

[Miguel]

Sorry about this I just realized that I had forgotten to resize them.
Miguel

[Miguel]

Try once more

[Miguel]

Try again
I don't know what's but am unable to submit pics

[colin henshaw]

A nice old example of this type of dagger, with the wirework undamaged. Congratulations. Although usually described as "Shona", this type of weapon was I believe, also used by other tribes further north into Malawi, such as the Yao...

[Miguel]

Thank you Colin for your informative reply, it is much appreciated. I wasn't aware that this type of dagger was used by other tribes, do they make their own or are they traded by the Shona? I would like to see how they did the wire decoration, it is so neat and tight on the wood. Thanks again.
Miguel

[Sajen]

Hello Miguel,

can you provide some closeups from the wooden parts, the binding and the blade?

Regards,
Detlef

[colin henshaw]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Thank you Colin for your informative reply, it is much appreciated. I wasn't aware that this type of dagger was used by other tribes, do they make their own or are they traded by the Shona? I would like to see how they did the wire decoration, it is so neat and tight on the wood. Thanks again.
Miguel

I imagine the various tribal groups had their own craftsmen, who did such work. I have seen that type of wirework on different objects such as sticks, spear shafts, fly-whisks and the like. Often beautifully done. Although Africans did manufacture wire in the historic period, I think the wire itself used here is probably European in origin, the plaiting done in Africa.

Regards.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Sajen

Hello Miguel,

can you provide some closeups from the wooden parts, the binding and the blade?

Regards,
Detlef

Hello Detlef,

I will provide some close-ups but I wont be able to provide them very quickly as I will be out of town next week and then I will have to get the dagger out of storage to take the pics, sorry about that.
Regards
Miguel

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

I imagine the various tribal groups had their own craftsmen, who did such work. I have seen that type of wirework on different objects such as sticks, spear shafts, fly-whisks and the like. Often beautifully done. Although Africans did manufacture wire in the historic period, I think the wire itself used here is probably European in origin, the plaiting done in Africa.

Regards.

Thanks Colin for your comments they were much appreciated.

Regards
Miguel

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hello Detlef,

I will provide some close-ups but I wont be able to provide them very quickly as I will be out of town next week and then I will have to get the dagger out of storage to take the pics, sorry about that.
Regards
Miguel

Hello Detlef,

I have taken some fresh pics with close-ups as requested.
Miguel

[Miguel]

Two more.

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Miguel

I have taken some fresh pics with close-ups as requested.

Hi Miguel,

thank you for the much better pictures. Definitely not a tourist piece but a very nice dagger made for tribal use. First half of 20th century?

Regards,
Detlef