An other East African Jambia ?

Michel · 9th March 2007, 03:14 PM

This one is not well made. A thin blade of 16.5 cm, 1.7 mm thick, with acid etched markings (one cannot speak of writing but rather of scribbling), handle in bone, not well filed, 11cm long. It nevertheless drew my attention due to the two light cuttings at the bottom and the top of the handle. They were the distinctive marks of of twin daggers (symmetrical) of a panoply of East African edge weapons. But I cannot remember where I saw that panoply, neither the tribes.
Can anyone give a hand or has a clue?
Thanks
Michel

CourseEight · 9th March 2007, 03:59 PM

I can't help at all as to the handle style, but the designs on the blade strike me as being a lot like this kaskara: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=translation

Rick · 9th March 2007, 04:12 PM

This piece appears to be of Sudanese origin .

Michel · 9th March 2007, 04:14 PM

Thank you CourseEight.
I am not sure the writing is the same, as in Arabic there are some 6 or 8 caligraphy but you give me a lead. I will try to follow it .
Thanks
Michel

Michel · 26th March 2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

This piece appears to be of Sudanese origin .

Rick you are right.
I finally found the picture I had in mind in Tirri's book "Islamic Weapons". page 75, figure 45.Title : A variety of Sudanese copies of Persian weapons.
For me that dagger is one of a set of 3 daggers disposed symmetrically in a sheath made of Crocodile skin. These weapons have been discussed in the forum following a photo send by Katana on july 26.2006.( I do not know how to stick a link here !) Other threads showing other examples of the same daggers can be found with a search : sudanese arm daggers.
From these threads I conclude that this dagger may not be a cheap touristic piece but perhaps one of 3 daggers, normally sheathed in a 3 blades sheath utilized for ceremonial or commercial deals in Sudan.
Thank you Rick for giving the direction of search.
Michel

carlos · 26th March 2007, 10:08 PM

SUDANESE DAGGER, I BOUGHT 2 DAGGERS VERY SIMILAR IN EBAY TO ASHOKA ARTS.
THANKS
CARLOS

Michel · 27th March 2007, 09:17 AM

Hi Carlos,
Our daggers are sisters or at least cousin !
Yours has an interesting modern scabbard. In the thread I found and the book of Tirri, the scabbards are always for two or three daggers and systematically in lizard or crocodile skin.
Mine has a flat blade (1.7 mm thick) not forged but cut in a flat iron and filed. The writing is acid etched. I have no scabbard.
The handle is very roughly cut and hardly polished. I have made the hot needle test and can confirm it is bone or in a plastic that does not melt !
Regards
Michel

9th March 2007, 03:14 PM	#1
Michel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 139	An other East African Jambia ? This one is not well made. A thin blade of 16.5 cm, 1.7 mm thick, with acid etched markings (one cannot speak of writing but rather of scribbling), handle in bone, not well filed, 11cm long. It nevertheless drew my attention due to the two light cuttings at the bottom and the top of the handle. They were the distinctive marks of of twin daggers (symmetrical) of a panoply of East African edge weapons. But I cannot remember where I saw that panoply, neither the tribes. Can anyone give a hand or has a clue? Thanks Michel Attached Images

9th March 2007, 04:14 PM	#4
Michel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 139	A kaskara jambia ? Thank you CourseEight. I am not sure the writing is the same, as in Arabic there are some 6 or 8 caligraphy but you give me a lead. I will try to follow it . Thanks Michel

26th March 2007, 10:08 PM	#6
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 731	SUDANESE DAGGER SUDANESE DAGGER, I BOUGHT 2 DAGGERS VERY SIMILAR IN EBAY TO ASHOKA ARTS. THANKS CARLOS Attached Images

27th March 2007, 09:17 AM	#7
Michel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 139	Sudanese dagger Hi Carlos, Our daggers are sisters or at least cousin ! Yours has an interesting modern scabbard. In the thread I found and the book of Tirri, the scabbards are always for two or three daggers and systematically in lizard or crocodile skin. Mine has a flat blade (1.7 mm thick) not forged but cut in a flat iron and filed. The writing is acid etched. I have no scabbard. The handle is very roughly cut and hardly polished. I have made the hot needle test and can confirm it is bone or in a plastic that does not melt ! Regards Michel

9th March 2007, 03:59 PM	#2
CourseEight Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 222	I can't help at all as to the handle style, but the designs on the blade strike me as being a lot like this kaskara: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ht=translation

9th March 2007, 04:12 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,262	This piece appears to be of Sudanese origin .