Sokoto,Kano or Bornu?

Tim Simmons · 24th September 2006, 06:43 PM

I came across this today. I have cleaned the blade. Pristine has no cutting edges which is not unusual. Strange large hilt, would only really work as a personal defensive puncturing dagger. I know this may not be officially antique but the Sultans were not toppled untill 1906 and sporadic trouble up to the 1920s. The armies of the Sultanates were basically armed in a medieval manner.

There is a foot note in "History of Nigeria" Sir Alan Burns, first published 1929

"As late as the year 1916 the Montoils killed and ate a British official"

Tim Simmons · 25th September 2006, 09:30 AM

Some interesting links that illustrate how problematic area and tribal attribution can be.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0016-7398(190610)28%3A4%3C368%3AJINN%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0368-4016(190807)7%3A28%3C374%3ANOTTOT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-R

I do not know why the links will not work

looking with a glass at the knife one can see that it does indeed have some age to it.

Tim Simmons · 25th September 2006, 07:39 PM

These two weapons clearly come from the same region. The bulbous leather covered pommel quite different from those that end with small brass or aluminium knob. Thinking about the small weapon and fantasy fighting with it. I have changed my mind about its effectiveness. Held in a basic hammer hold with the blade up or down facing, at close quarters and thumping with the pommel it could be a very aggresive weapon. Also very pretty.

24th September 2006, 06:43 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Sokoto,Kano or Bornu? I came across this today. I have cleaned the blade. Pristine has no cutting edges which is not unusual. Strange large hilt, would only really work as a personal defensive puncturing dagger. I know this may not be officially antique but the Sultans were not toppled untill 1906 and sporadic trouble up to the 1920s. The armies of the Sultanates were basically armed in a medieval manner. There is a foot note in "History of Nigeria" Sir Alan Burns, first published 1929 "As late as the year 1916 the Montoils killed and ate a British official" Attached Images

25th September 2006, 07:39 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	These two weapons clearly come from the same region. The bulbous leather covered pommel quite different from those that end with small brass or aluminium knob. Thinking about the small weapon and fantasy fighting with it. I have changed my mind about its effectiveness. Held in a basic hammer hold with the blade up or down facing, at close quarters and thumping with the pommel it could be a very aggresive weapon. Also very pretty. Attached Images

25th September 2006, 09:30 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Some interesting links that illustrate how problematic area and tribal attribution can be. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0016-7398(190610)28%3A4%3C368%3AJINN%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0368-4016(190807)7%3A28%3C374%3ANOTTOT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-R I do not know why the links will not work looking with a glass at the knife one can see that it does indeed have some age to it.