Interesting knife for ID Tlingit or African?

Atlantia · 5th November 2011, 03:11 PM

Who the heck knows!
In some ways it reminds me of the Tlingit knives and in other ways it looks African.
It's 56cm/22" overall. Diamond section blade (thick and sturdy) multiple single fullers. In quite a dry and rusty state, needs a clean badly.
Anyone know what it it?

Gavin Nugent · 5th November 2011, 03:13 PM

A nice large and unusual piece.

Be conservative in cleaning, patina is preferred on African weapons.

Atlantia · 5th November 2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebooter

A nice large and unusual piece.

Be conservative in cleaning, patina is preferred on African weapons.

Hi Gav

It IS definately African then?
The hilt bindings remind me of Mandinka work?

Iain · 5th November 2011, 03:33 PM

African for sure in my opinion. This pattern of leather wrapping over cloth is well known in the Cameroon/Nigeria border area. The incised line decoration is also consistent with pieces from this area and also shows up on Hausa arm daggers.

The pommel is certainly unusual, but I guess comes from the same school as the Tebu skullcrusher style.

Nice piece!

Atlantia · 5th November 2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iain

African for sure in my opinion. This pattern of leather wrapping over cloth is well known in the Cameroon/Nigeria border area. The incised line decoration is also consistent with pieces from this area and also shows up on Hausa arm daggers.

The pommel is certainly unusual, but I guess comes from the same school as the Tebu skullcrusher style.

Nice piece!

Thanks Iain.

I've never seen one quite like this before, so it had me a bit stumped.

Iain · 5th November 2011, 04:55 PM

No problem, I can't recall one exactly the same either, but I think the general style is pretty consistent with the region I mentioned.

I like it a lot, sometimes arm daggers from the region have quite wide blades but I like this slender profile - rather elegant.

Mauro · 8th November 2011, 10:11 PM

Hi agree with Iain. African from the Nigeria/Cameroon border but it is quite interesting because I have never see this type of cap. The usual cap of the Tebou-Tedda is triangular. It could be an older form !!

Martin Lubojacky · 8th November 2011, 10:57 PM

Hi, fully agree with Iain and Mauro. Interesting and probably rare piece ! And let´s take one picture with simmilar blade (Tebu item, bud unfortunately polished, Gav...)

Regards
Martin

Gavin Nugent · 9th November 2011, 12:32 AM

:-)

By form, it reminds me of two ends of a spear joined together and bound in th middle. It dont think it is as the splayed end looks too wide for a spear base...but...any movement in there???

Gav

Atlantia · 9th November 2011, 09:55 AM

Mauro, Iain, Martin, Gav,

Thanks chaps!
I've done some further digging in the archives using your advice:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tebu
Remember this one of Davids?

No movement, definately one piece construction.

Iain · 9th November 2011, 11:05 AM

Yup, that style like David's piece is what I was thinking of generally. That style, with a more rounded pommel seems to be a distinct variant as well from the more triangular examples.

5th November 2011, 03:11 PM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Interesting knife for ID Tlingit or African? Who the heck knows! In some ways it reminds me of the Tlingit knives and in other ways it looks African. It's 56cm/22" overall. Diamond section blade (thick and sturdy) multiple single fullers. In quite a dry and rusty state, needs a clean badly. Anyone know what it it? Attached Images

8th November 2011, 10:57 PM	#8
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	Hi, fully agree with Iain and Mauro. Interesting and probably rare piece ! And let´s take one picture with simmilar blade (Tebu item, bud unfortunately polished, Gav...) Regards Martin Attached Images

9th November 2011, 12:32 AM	#9
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	it reminds me :-) By form, it reminds me of two ends of a spear joined together and bound in th middle. It dont think it is as the splayed end looks too wide for a spear base...but...any movement in there??? Gav

5th November 2011, 03:13 PM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	A nice large and unusual piece. Be conservative in cleaning, patina is preferred on African weapons.

5th November 2011, 03:33 PM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,680	African for sure in my opinion. This pattern of leather wrapping over cloth is well known in the Cameroon/Nigeria border area. The incised line decoration is also consistent with pieces from this area and also shows up on Hausa arm daggers. The pommel is certainly unusual, but I guess comes from the same school as the Tebu skullcrusher style. Nice piece!

5th November 2011, 04:55 PM	#6
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,680	No problem, I can't recall one exactly the same either, but I think the general style is pretty consistent with the region I mentioned. I like it a lot, sometimes arm daggers from the region have quite wide blades but I like this slender profile - rather elegant.

8th November 2011, 10:11 PM	#7
Mauro Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 83	Hi agree with Iain. African from the Nigeria/Cameroon border but it is quite interesting because I have never see this type of cap. The usual cap of the Tebou-Tedda is triangular. It could be an older form !!

9th November 2011, 09:55 AM	#10
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Mauro, Iain, Martin, Gav, Thanks chaps! I've done some further digging in the archives using your advice: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=tebu Remember this one of Davids? No movement, definately one piece construction.

9th November 2011, 11:05 AM	#11
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,680	Yup, that style like David's piece is what I was thinking of generally. That style, with a more rounded pommel seems to be a distinct variant as well from the more triangular examples.