Hausa Arm Knife,

Tim Simmons · 16th November 2005, 04:46 PM

One of two posts tonight to show the good and bad buys you get when you gamble on blurry ebay pictures. This is a beauty, one of two the other one I will have to try and resolder the scabbard seam, should not be to difficult I hope

but this one is perfect. Sorry my pictures do not show the decoration clearly, total length 56.5cm. They were silly cheap. Tim

Freddy · 17th November 2005, 06:39 PM

Tim,

This knife could also be Fulani (other names are Fulbe or Peul) who live in the neighbourhood of the Hausa.

I read in a book that the Fulani used the lost-wax technique to cast the handles of their arm daggers. Yours looks like it is made this way.

I have a similar knife (but not as good as yours

) without sheath.

Could we see your dagger out of its sheath ?

Tim Simmons · 17th November 2005, 08:38 PM

I do not think this picture helps that much, I will try to take one tomorrow during the day without the flash, which makes a very harsh picture, I also had to give the blade a rather thorough cleaning to ensure ease of travel in the scabbard. You can see there is a light fuller to this blade with a matching one on the other side. The blade is also quite thin rather like the top section of a Tabuka. I think it is the scabbards that give the best indication of where in the "Telek" wearing regions they most likely originate as similar elements of their design and construction and these cruciform metal handles seem to be all over the region. I think Freddy's Knife has more in common with this other arm knife. Tim

Shai Cohen · 19th November 2005, 03:55 PM

a very beautiful item,
where did you get it?

16th November 2005, 04:46 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Hausa Arm Knife, One of two posts tonight to show the good and bad buys you get when you gamble on blurry ebay pictures. This is a beauty, one of two the other one I will have to try and resolder the scabbard seam, should not be to difficult I hope but this one is perfect. Sorry my pictures do not show the decoration clearly, total length 56.5cm. They were silly cheap. Tim Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 16th November 2005 at 05:46 PM. Reason: SPELLING!!!Spelling SpellingSpellingSpelling

17th November 2005, 08:38 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	I do not think this picture helps that much, I will try to take one tomorrow during the day without the flash, which makes a very harsh picture, I also had to give the blade a rather thorough cleaning to ensure ease of travel in the scabbard. You can see there is a light fuller to this blade with a matching one on the other side. The blade is also quite thin rather like the top section of a Tabuka. I think it is the scabbards that give the best indication of where in the "Telek" wearing regions they most likely originate as similar elements of their design and construction and these cruciform metal handles seem to be all over the region. I think Freddy's Knife has more in common with this other arm knife. Tim Attached Images

19th November 2005, 03:55 PM	#4
Shai Cohen Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2	lovely knife! a very beautiful item, where did you get it?

17th November 2005, 06:39 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Tim, This knife could also be Fulani (other names are Fulbe or Peul) who live in the neighbourhood of the Hausa. I read in a book that the Fulani used the lost-wax technique to cast the handles of their arm daggers. Yours looks like it is made this way. I have a similar knife (but not as good as yours ) without sheath. Could we see your dagger out of its sheath ?