Double Dagger
Shona, Zimbabwe
Iron, wood, brass
19th century

This is an extremely rare type. One example (pictured below) was illustrated in Muller, H. & Snelleman, J.F., Industrie des Cafres du sud-est de l'Afrique (1893), and described therein as “rare.” One example was published in Fischer & Zirngibl, Afrikanische Waffen (1978), and misattributed as “Bagirmi?” A third example is the collection of Wolf-Dieter Miersch in Germany (seen here), and this is the fourth example. Surely there are others out there, but I am not aware of them.

Published: 100 African Blades, no. 81 (Rider, 2021). 

Like the Shona’s bakatwa daggers, the iron here has been selectively blackened. The bakatwa was distinguished for its partially blackened blade, and was a religious item that connected its owner to the ancestors and spirit allies (Pitt Rivers Museum, Bakatwa, n.d.).

A tag from the previous owner, who acquired most of his knives in the UK, indicates that he purchased this piece on 24 Aug. 1994.

Mounted on a custom display stand, pictured below. 

15.25 in :: 39 cm

InventoryID #13-1498

Price on Request