Knife

Purchased by collector from a local craftsman at a small marketplace on the main road through the town of Isiolo. Isiolo was said to be the production centre for this type of knife.

Part a is a steel knife with a black coloured cow horn handle. Handle has two sets of four metal bands alternating with three black coloured bands. On the bottom of the knife handle there is a circular piece of metal with two black circle outlines by the edge of the metal circle. Part b is a camel skin sheath that is sewn up one side (with sinew?). Near the opening, on either side of the stitching there are two flaps of extra skin. On the tip there is a cylindrical wrap of skin. There are burnt geometric and linear designs on both sides and top of the sheath.