Tuareg Sword
Tuareg
French Algeria (Algeria)
Late 19th - Early 20th century
Steel, brass, copper, wood, leather
Blade: 58,4cm
Hilt & Blade: 69,9cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: 71,8cm
Collection Date: 2025
Collection Number: 470

Ex. French Private Collection (2025)
Collected in Oran, Algeria: (2012)

A rare type of sword used by the Tuareg oasis tribes in Southern Algeria. The form takes the general shape of the Ottoman yataghan sword with Tuareg styling and North African detail.

The single- edged steel blade is recurved, upcurving to an acute point. Having a large brass bolster that is riveted to the blade by three copper nails and decorated in traditional Tuareg stippled geometric motifs. The wooden hilt with a brass ferrule and pommel in more stippled Tuareg designs. Iron pommel cap at the base.

The sheath is composed of embossed red leather with the opening at the top and rear to insert the recurved blade, very similar to the laz bichaq (black sea yataghan) style of swords. The sheath is tightly held together by two brass bands and a chape decorated in stippled Tuareg designs, the bands having suspension rings with the first connected to a chain to secure the blade within the opening.

This is a very interesting sword for which I have not been able to find another one like it. It was collected by the previous owner in 2012 in Oran, Algeria, from a Tuareg man from Southern Algeria. It shows a variety of influences, including Ottoman, North African, and Tuareg form and design. A fully functional sword with a thick and heavy blade.

[1] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=543 (Telek decoration)

[2] http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=4161 (Laz bichaq form)

[3] https://africanarms.com/gallery.html?1-hausa-prestige-sword-82-5-cm (Takouba Decoration)