Sudanese War period, c.1885. Probably made for the Mahdist’s inner circle. The Whirling Dervish. 23 ½” overall, unsheathed and finely crafted with line bordered hammer finished blade and broad spatulate skull crusher pommel. The grip in two ranks of finely woven polished leather with a Nile crocodile skin band between. Tapered scabbard with crocodile skin and leather banded throat, tooled leather medial with a standing central fin and crocodile skin lower, to the tip. Woven leather-covered bun form tip mount. Wonderful age patina throughout with minor wear only. Its size, true short sword in the African context, makes it significantly heavier than other Sudanese daggers. Unique in our experience.
