This is a knife/dagger from Northern Africa - likely Libya or Chad. It is probably the product of the Tebu (or Toubou...spellings vary) people, or a very closely related tribe.
Instead of being worn on a belt, the leather band would wrap around a man's upper arm, thereby concealing the weapon under robes. It's not clear to me if the pointed but unsharpened iron pommel has any function, but they appear on every example of this kind if knife I've seen. The scabbard is leather (probably cowhide) and snakeskin (cobra? I dunno). This piece features a rather crudely made blade (but nevertheless strong and sharp), but outstanding workmanship on the scabbard.
Instead of being worn on a belt, the leather band would wrap around a man's upper arm, thereby concealing the weapon under robes. It's not clear to me if the pointed but unsharpened iron pommel has any function, but they appear on every example of this kind if knife I've seen. The scabbard is leather (probably cowhide) and snakeskin (cobra? I dunno). This piece features a rather crudely made blade (but nevertheless strong and sharp), but outstanding workmanship on the scabbard.
I'd love to learn more about these if anyone has seen them in use.
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