Khodmi (Bou Saáda Knife)
Khodmi (Bou Saáda Knife)
Berber
Bou Saáda, French Algeria (Algeria)
First half 20th century (ca. 1920 - 1950)
Steel, wood, leather, brass, steel wire
Blade: 14,9cm
Hilt & Blade: 24,4cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 27cm
Collection Date: 2022
Collection Number: 259
Ex. Harry Wagner Collection: Columbus, Ohio, USA (2022)
An Algerian knife known as a khodmi, commonly used for everyday utility purposes whose collectors name refers to the Algerian City of Bou Saáda from where they are sold. They take their form from earlier European Mediterranean knives from places like Genoa and Corsica. As with many examples, this one is likely a World War II bringback from the North Africa Campaign.
The steel blade is straight single- edged slightly upcurved near the point. On one face, it has two brass circle insets with some linear engravings. One shallow fuller follows near the spine while two fullers are present on the lower half. On the reverse are linear engravings.
The hilt is composed of carved wood bound with braided brass and steel wire with a notched steel bolster and line engravings on the spine. The sheath is dyed red leather over wood with a steel suspension ring and leather lanyard carrying strap threaded through the hilt hole. Decorated with a small silver sheath band. An attractive and very good quality, complete example of the Algerian Khodmi knife.
Photograph 7: The Hunter, 1902, by Etienne Dinet
[1] Claude, Eric. 2020. “The Small Catalog of Moroccan and Algerian Edged Weapons”. Page 224
[2] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=6168