Eritrean Dagger

  • Eritrean Dagger

  • Eritrean Dagger

  • Eritrean Dagger

  • Eritrean Dagger

  • Eritrean Dagger

  • Eritrean Dagger

  • Eritrean Dagger

  • Eritrean Dagger

Eritrean Dagger
Tigrinya / Tigrayan
Italian Eritrea (Eritrea)
First half 20th century (ca. 1900 - 1945)
Steel, bone, horn, metal alloy
Blade: 14,6cm
Hilt & Blade: 25,4cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 26cm
Collection Date: 2024
Collection Number: 393

An uncommon dagger from Eritrea in the Horn of Africa used by the Tigrinya and Tigrayan Peoples. The straight steel blade is double- edged with two central fullers spanning the length of the blade before coming to an acute point. The hilt is composed of segments of stacked bone and horn, possibly goat or bovine with a crescent shaped carved pommel ending in a metal alloy tang cap, possibly zinc. Wood sheath covered in brass with stippled chevron patterns. Many examples were gathered during early Italian occupation in Eritrea during the 1880s and 1890s. This one dates to around the early 20th century up until possibly World War II time frame. It still remains in great shape as the delicate pommel is not broken, chipped, or missing. Complete with original sheath.