OVAMBO SLAVE TRADER'S DAGGER

Second half of the 19th century. Wood grip displaying the carved and scorch decoration for which the Ovambo (Ambo) were noted. See Fischer #361. 8 1/4" medial ridged leaf shape blade, hammer finished and surface textured, with transverse tooling emulating file teeth as daggers made from European files were considered prestigious. The Ovambo were slave traders who, after the decline of the trade on the West coast, captured and acquired slaves for sale on the east coast, which trade greatly expanded in the second half of the 19th century.