Tuareg copper dagger






length: 17"
blade: 9 1/2"
blade width: 1 3/8" base
grip: 7 1/4"

This dagger is of relatively recent origin, from the Tuareg of the northwest Sahara. Domestic production and export must be on the rise as I've seen a lot of Tuareg daggers on the market lately, but this is the only one I've ever seen with a copper blade. The gentleman I purchased it from told the following story: "ATTENTION COLLECTORS!!! You will not see another piece like this one. My father used to do missionary work in Africa. He once encountered a nomadic (wandering) tribe of warriors. Upon listening to his presentation one of the elders presented him with this sword." Moral of the story - don't believe everything you read on eBay. Very nice leatherwork on the handle and wooden sheath. Blade shows file markings from manufacture, is not sharp, but quite nifty.