Arm Dagger
Nuba
Nuba Hills, Kordofan, Anglo- Egyptian Sudan (Nuba Hills, South Kordofan, Sudan)
Mid- 20th century (ca. 1930 - 1950)
Steel, wood, metal alloy, leather, reptile skin
Blade: 16,2cm
Hilt & Blade: 27,3cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 30,5cm
Collection Date: 2019
Collection Number: 97

Ex. Harry Wagner Collection: Columbus, Ohio, USA (2019)

A Sudanese arm dagger of the Nuba people from the Nuba Hills Region of South Kordofan, dating to around the mid- 20th century.

The straight steel blade is double- edged with a medial ridge separated by two central fullers and beveled edges. The hilt carved from a dark hardwood with flared ends. Domed metal alloy pommel cap on the base. Sheath of leather covered in monitor skin and leather bound toom. A steel pick/tweezers with engraved designs is set within the rear side of the sheath. Attached with a braided leather arm loop with leather fringes. A very good Nuba arm dagger.

The last photo shows a comparison to Nuba examples in the book, "African Weapons," by Werner Fischer and Manfred Zirngibl.

[1] Fischer, Werner. Zirngibl, Manfred. 1978. “African Weapons”. Page 50. Cat. 65, 66, 67

[2] https://prm.ox.ac.uk/collections-online#/item/prm-object-76691

[3] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1939-30-31-a?_gl=1%2a1y9dufn%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMTQyNTI4OTA5OC4xNzEyNDQ0MDAw%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxMjQ0Mzk5OS4xLjAuMTcxMjQ0Mzk5OS4wLjAuMA

[4] https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Af1936-0715-31-a?_gl=1%2a1logvs9%2a_up%2aMQ..%2a_ga%2aMTQyNTI4OTA5OC4xNzEyNDQ0MDAw%2a_ga_08TLB9R8X1%2aMTcxMjQ0Mzk5OS4xLjAuMTcxMjQ0Mzk5OS4wLjAuMA..

[5] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?4-nuba-kordofan-kadugli-46-cm-knife-44-5-cm

[6] https://galleryrider.com/index.php/tribal-art/archive/symmetrical-blades/arm-dagger-and-tweezers-sheath-fur-nuba-bedja-barabra-hadendoa-sudan

[7] https://vikingsword.com/lew/w1145/w1145.html