Sudan, Sahara region: an upper arm dagger from Nubia (Sudan) and an especially beautiful dagger of the Tuareg, from the Sahara. Both pieces with sheath.

1: An upper arm dagger, as employed by tribes in northern Sudan and Nubia (Beni Amer, Hadendoa, etc.). With double-edged blade with middle ridge. The hilt of hard precious wood is decorated all around in the centre with notched lines. On the flat, broad end of the handle sits a flat, round end finial of copper. A small, old, and insignificant loss to the hilt. The sheath consists of leather, with an embossed pattern on the front central area, and it is partly overlaid with greyish brown lizard skin. On the back of the sheath, a thick carrying strap of twisted leather cords is attached by means of knots. With this strap, the dagger was carried on the left upper arm, under the clothing. A porcupine bristle and two small wooden sticks are stuck into the sheath, for carrying out daily tasks (as an awl, for example). Length: 26 cm (in total). 2: A very fine dagger of the Tuareg, who live in the Sahara region, from southern Morocco, Algeria, Mali and up to the Republic of Niger. The dagger has a pointed double-edged blade. Hilt and sheath are carefully made of brass and copper, of black leather and black synthetic material: cast, embossed, soldered and decorated with typical, geometric Tuareg patterns (the leather is embossed and the metal parts are engraved). On the sheath two carrying rings of copper are attached. An especially elaborately crafted object.

No damage. Length: 34 cm (in total).
Both daggers including sheaths: First half of the 20th century. (ME) ASA

Lit.: ‘Afrikanische Waffen’ by Fischer & Zirngibl, ill. 65, 66, 67; ‘Panga na visu’ by Zirngibl & Kubetz, ill. 8, 10, 11.