Mysterious knife number 2

[Jim McDougall]

I agree with Stu's note observing the baldric type suspension rings on one of the brass scabbards, suggesting of course, Maghreb potential in degree. The inscriptions and overall character and quality very nice!
In post #6, note the Albacete type piercing in the blade, and seeming assortment of influences in overall components, possibly Spanish colonies in Morocco? and this seems to have good age to it.

Basically many ethnographic forms of more modern (latter 19th c, onward into 20th) knives reflect influences from various places across North Africa and into Middle East in curiously contrived hybrids. While typically quite attractive they well illustrate the futility of trying to classify these regionally as a rule.

In classifying these kinds of weapons, it is usually best to describe them as accurately as possible while adding qualifying influences which might add to origin. When the classification 'tourist' is reluctantly considered in some items, the diffusion of these through commercial channels is difficult to imagine in scope.

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

I agree with Stu's note observing the baldric type suspension rings on one of the brass scabbards, suggesting of course, Maghreb potential in degree. The inscriptions and overall character and quality very nice!
In post #6, note the Albacete type piercing in the blade, and seeming assortment of influences in overall components, possibly Spanish colonies in Morocco? and this seems to have good age to it.

Basically many ethnographic forms of more modern (latter 19th c, onward into 20th) knives reflect influences from various places across North Africa and into Middle East in curiously contrived hybrids. While typically quite attractive they well illustrate the futility of trying to classify these regionally as a rule.

In classifying these kinds of weapons, it is usually best to describe them as accurately as possible while adding qualifying influences which might add to origin. When the classification 'tourist' is reluctantly considered in some items, the diffusion of these through commercial channels is difficult to imagine in scope.

Salaams Jim, This is quite interesting since there appear to be an amalgamation of designs here... Peculiar hilt for a Sibiki or Dharia ... The stones are agate...The inscription(which is upside down) makes no sense.... Istlag benzert.

Initially the pendulum swung through Saudia to Kurdish for good reason ...even looking at Syrian etc etc but finally I found a picture of an African style ....chasing the design idea of the dots inside the circles on the hilt...at http://collectiblefirearms.com/Pictures/dag_0081-08.JPG

I think that takes us closer..

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Ian]

This is not my field but something about the hilt and guard jogged a distant memory of a sword that I once owned and was discussed on the old UBB Forum about 12 years ago. Here is the thread and a picture of the sword I put up for discussion (apologies for the rather poor pictures).

The hilt and guard look very similar to the piece just mentioned and there is a cut out segment of the blade as well. At the time, Oliver responded that this was a Greek qama. I hope this helps contribute to the discussion.

Ian

[Kubur]

Thanks Ian, your dagger is the missing link between the daggers that I presented first and the third one that I posted later.
Tunisian of course, I will post more examples later.
Kubur

[Ian]

I'm pleased I could make a contribution to your thread Kubur. As an aside, do you think the pierced blade on mine and the third example you posted might be related to the similar piercings on some of the Albacete Spanish knives of the 19th C? Note the example third from the right in this selection posted by Carlos in 2012.

Ian

Carlos' picture is here: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attach...id=95781&stc=1

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

The stones are agate...The inscription(which is upside down) makes no sense.... Istlag benzert.

Ibrahim, thank you very much.

The inscription makes sens to me:
Bizerte or Banzart (بنزرت) is a town on Tunisian North coast.
Famous for his pirates after 1574, also famous for his red coral.

By the way, the stones on the hilt are red coral (common with these Tunisian daggers).

Best,
Kubur

[BANDOOK]

KUBUR HANDSOME LOOKING DAGGERS,GOOD FIND,CHEERS

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Ibrahim, thank you very much.

The inscription makes sens to me:
Bizerte or Banzart (بنزرت) is a town on Tunisian North coast.
Famous for his pirates after 1574, also famous for his red coral.

By the way, the stones on the hilt are red coral (common with these Tunisian daggers).

Best,
Kubur

Salaams Kubur ... That is amazing. I'm so pleased you were able to nail down the name Bizerte. ... (Oops not agate ..but coral).... . Great thread...

In brief the Pirates story is very interesting and from lexicorient.com I note Quote" History
1st millennium BCE: Founded by the Phoenicians from Tyre as a trade and military outpost, and named Hippo Diarrythus. The Phonicians would dig a canal from Lake Bizerte.
310: Captured by Agathocles of Syracuse.
2nd century: Becomes a Roman colony following the fall of Carthage.
661 CE: Conquered by the Arab Muslims, and named Bizerte.
9th century: Bizerte is rebuilt by the command of the Aghlabids.
1535: Occupied by the Spanish.
1572: Pirates take control over Bizerte, and turn it into one of their strongholds.
1610: Youssef Dey takes control of Bizerte, and piracy continues.
1881: Together with most of Tunisia, comes Bizerte under French control, and becomes an important military centre, controlling both the northern and eastern coast of Tunisia.
1895: The French complete a new canal between Lake Bizerte and the sea. This turns the area into an ideal naval port and arsenal, with Sidi Abdallah (later Menzel Bourguiba) as the military centre". Unquote.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Ibrahim, thank you very much.

The inscription makes sens to me:
Bizerte or Banzart (بنزرت) is a town on Tunisian North coast.
Famous for his pirates after 1574, also famous for his red coral.

By the way, the stones on the hilt are red coral (common with these Tunisian daggers).

Best,
Kubur

Hi Kubur

I have followed this thread with bated breath it was like a detective novel, absolutely brilliant how the pieces of information from the others came together just proves how useful this forum is.
Well done everyone
Miguel

[messia]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hi Kubur

I have followed this thread with bated breath it was like a detective novel, absolutely brilliant how the pieces of information from the others came together just proves how useful this forum is.
Well done everyone
Miguel

Thank you. I saw this post. but did not understand how to properly call this dagger?

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by messia

Thank you. I saw this post. but did not understand how to properly call this dagger?

It's not a koummiya, it's not a jambiya.
Try khanjer or khanjar, just if you want a name...

[Kubur]

Hi guys

Just wanted to share with you this lovely Tunisian dagger.
For the "name game" I would say Tunisian sbula ou sboula.
As it was said previously the link with Spanish blades is obvious.
I don't know if I'm crazy but the guard look a bit like the nimcha...