What kind of knife is this and where is it from?

score:6

Accepted answer

The dual scabbard rings seem to narrow this style to North Africa, possibly a version of the Moroccan Koummya.

The koummya is the characteristic traditional dagger of the Berber and Arabic peoples of Morocco.


An image from the German wiki page here:

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The koummya is defined as a

...localized variant of the Arabic jambiya, and the contoured handles, curved double-edged blades and exaggeratedly upturned scabbard tips are all features consistent with such an interpretation. In the context of the traditional regional manner of dress, the koummya is worn visibly at the left side, generally about at the level of the waist and is suspended vertically, with the scabbard tip forward, by a long woolen baldric, attached at either end to one of the two scabbard rings, and worn crossing in front and back of the torso and over the right shoulder.

Note there are many 'tourist' versions of these sold:

Tourist grade koummyas of varying degrees of quality exist in abundance and may be found at almost all arms fairs and flea markets. It is difficult to walk even a block in the Marakkech market without being aggressively offered the opportunity to purchase one or several at "bargain" prices.

So, for other then sentimental value, a professional appraisal would probably be required.

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