Arm Dagger
Arm Dagger
Fur
Sultanate of Darfur - Darfur, Mahdist Sudan (Darfur, Sudan)
Late 19th century (ca. 1870 - 1898)
Steel, rhinoceros horn, silver alloy, monitor skin, leather, crocodile skin
Blade: 17,8cm
Hilt & Blade: 28,9cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 33,3cm
Collection Date: 2025
Collection Number: 487
Ex. Oriental Arms: Haifa, Israel (2025)
A very fine and rare arm dagger of the Darfur Sultanate in Sudan, dating to the late 19th century. This type of arm dagger is closely related to the Khartoum style but less common, always having a silver chape and a domed pommel cap. Similar examples can be found in the Palace of Sultan Ali Dinar Museum in Al Fashir, Dafur. Undoubtedly, they have also made their way to be sold in the markets in the capital twin cities of Omdurman / Khartoum. Most examples collected tend to be from the late 19th century, specifically the 1870s through the 1880s. Very similar pieces can be seen in Dr. Wilhelm Junker's Travels in Africa 1875 - 1886, attributed to Darfur.
The straight steel blade is double- edged with a slightly raised medial ridge extending to the point, separating two shallow central fullers. The flared hilt, carved from a richly grained rhinoceros horn having turned rings around the bottom central grip. Disc- shaped pommel ending in an elaborate chiseled silver domed pommel cap.
The is sheath made of various materials. The mouth section of monitor skin, central segments of red embossed leather and crocodile skin, while the bottom has a silver filigree mounted chape ending in an incised bulb (toom). Attached is a braided leather arm loop.
This is a very rare and fine quality arm dagger of Darfur from a high-ranking individual. I have come across a few of these examples in private and museum collections, but without the silver chape and rhinoceros horn combination, making this specific one the best example I have seen so far. A truly remarkable piece.
Photograph 14: Similar examples found in the Palace of Sultan Ali Dinar Museum in Al Fashir, Dafur.
Photograph 15: A photograph from Dr. Wilhelm Junker's Travels in Africa 1875 - 1886, attributed to Darfur.
[1] https://oriental-arms.com/product/rare-arm-dagger-with-r-horn-handle-darfur-south-sudan/
[2] Junker, Dr. Wilhelm. “Dr. W. Junker's Travels in Africa 1875 – 1886”. Bd.1, S.557 - from Darfur
[3] https://www.weltmuseumwien.at/object/?detailID=486605&offset=289&lv=list
[5] https://oriental-arms.com/product/rare-long-dagger-from-darfur-south-sudan/
[6] https://africanarms.com/gallery?3-darfur-dagger-46-cm
[7] https://african-weapons.com//gallery?9-rhino-dagger-43-5-cm
[8] https://africanarms.com/gallery?1-rhino-dagger-w-sheath-43-5-cm