Rare Dagger of the Tetela with Huge Pommel Weight

Tetela and Genya people from Congo as well as others use daggers with a heavy diamond shaped steel pommel. Numerous suggestions for the actual purpose of this heavy pommel were given: To drop knife from the height of a tree, or to improve the balance and increase the blow of the blade. Both suggestions are non practical. The dagger is not balanced at all and the weight of the pommel diminish balancing. To drop it from the height of a tree is a very complicated task in the dense vegetation of the rain forest.

The heavy pommel is most probably a sign of status wealth and power, or for the use as currency. The existing exaggerated large pommels substantiate this assumption, as is the case in the dagger offered here. With pommel weight of more than 1.0 Kg, 3 inches wide and 2 inches thick. Classical blade delicately incised with lines and geometrical design. and wood grip bound with copper strips. It is shown below next to a more common Tetela similar dagger.

Blade 10 inches long. Total length 16 inches. Total weight 1.16 Kg. Very good condition. No scabbard.