TUAREG BELT DAGGER

Mahdist period. 8" leaf shaped pierced blade with an oval at the center, retaining its original tool finish. The grip with flared pommel and base, encased in stitched seam leather. Built up leather scabbard with thickened edges over conical base, tooled and pigmented throughout. Hilt and scabbard matching with a little wear from use. The Tuareg allied with the Sudanese against the British as well as fighting their French occupiers in the last decades of the 19th century.