Vintage Manding Prestige Dagger West African Carved Wood Effigy Leather... For Sale

This vintage, mid-century Manding (Mandingo) prestige dagger is a stunning example of tribal status armor from West Africa, primarily crafted across regions like Mali and Senegal. Rather than a modern souvenir replica, this mid-20th-century piece features a hand-forged carbon steel double-edged blade with a distinct raised central ridge, displaying a deep, historic oxidized patina and natural surface scaling from decades of careful storage.

The accompanying casing is a masterpiece of traditional West African leatherwork, created from premium vegetable-tanned leather dyed to a rich, deep oxblood-burgundy tone. The front of the sheath displays complex geometric hand-stamped X-patterns and circular punch indentations, relying entirely on layered construction and braided borders without the use of hardware or metal rivets. The lower terminal is adorned with a large, intricately braided, flared leather tassel bundle designed to sway as a visual symbol of high-status artistry.

The hilt features a highly unique, hand-sculpted wooden pommel cap carved directly into a distinct folk-art human face or ancestral effigy, serving as a token of protection or clan lineage. This specific combination of a fully sculpted face pommel and an entirely intact, well-preserved leather tassel assembly makes it a highly desirable piece for ethnographic weapon curators and collectors of tribal art.

Technical Specifications:

• Product Type: Ethnographic Short Sword / Prestige Dagger

• Cultural / Tribal Origin: Manding (Mandingo) Peoples

• Geographical Region: West Africa (Mali / Senegal)

• Estimated Era: Mid-20th Century (Circa 1950s–1970s)

• Blade Material: Hand-Forged Carbon Steel with Raised Center Ridge

• Hilt Construction: Wrapped Grip with Integrated Hand-Carved Wood Effigy Pommel

• Sheath Material: Hand-Tooled Vegetable-Tanned Leather, Oxblood Dye

• Embellishments: Braided Leather Suspension Cords, Multi-Strand Flared Tassel

• Total Casing Height: 16.0 inches

• Blade Length: 7.5 inches

• Total Weight: 6.0 oz

• Condition: Excellent vintage preservation, no dry rot to leather, tight structure. Stored correctly for 40 years plus. Leather is pristine condition. Was gotten in the 70s.