Koumiya Dagger or Not

[TDK]

Ok guys, help me with this one. My father got this Moroccan Dagger in WWII. He said it was from North Africa or the Middle East. As far as I can find out it is possibly from Morocco and is a koumiya which is a version of the Arabic jambya dagger. It is possibly
19th century. After decades of tarnishing, I polished it and the beauty came out. Looks like brass, copper and sliver layers and overlays. I took it to a jewler and he said that indeed silver was used. A symbol is on the blade in Arabic. Dagger is 17" overall with a
14" blade.
Is this a true koumiya dagger or did my dad get taken while in North Africa during the war?
Oh, and how much do you think it's worth? Ok, I wanted to send pictures but it says that my file 1.12 MB bytes is too big for the forums 197.7 KB. What do I do so I can send pictures, PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!! Here are photo's from Photo Bucket, hope they come out.

Thanks,
TDK
Spring, Texas
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...k/DSC03978.jpg
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http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...k/DSC03960.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...k/DSC03953.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...k/DSC03956.jpg
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...k/DSC03955.jpg

[NJStricker]

I don't know if it's authentic or not.

However, knowing what little I do about antiques, if you polished it then you likely removed any original "patina" and possibly severely degraded its value.

[TDK]

Oh Well, I wasn't going to sell it anyway so I love the look of it. Thanks for the info.

[NJStricker]

Then no harm done! Interesting looking weapon!

[Buddy Thomason]

Yes, it looks like a Moroccan koummya - a type of jambiya (generic term for any number of Middle East/North Africa type 'curved' blades). Certainly it's 'authentic' if your father purchased it while in North Africa during WWII - in other words it is not a fake per se. But authentic may not equate with 'old' or 'used in combat' or anything like that. It was probably more decorative in nature, either worn by persons local to that area or made locally for the tourist trade. If authentic, the cord should be silk. The leather wraps on the cord look not very old, though it's hard to tell from the picture alone. Little details like that could be important in dating the piece. Even if it was 'made for trade', that's not a negative for it appears to be a fine specimen. Whether your dad got 'taken' or not probably depends on what he paid and if it was represented to him in a truthful manner. It's value today may be several hundred dollars on up to maybe a thousand max, though a thousand would likely be a 'high' price. I'd do as you plan to do - that is keep and enjoy it as part of your collection for its uniqueness and its link to a different culture and era - as well as a memento from a significant time in your father's life. I wish I had something so nice that belonged to my father! Thanks for sharing the pictures and story.

[TDK]

You are right Buddy, the cord is silk. I put the leather wrap where mice had chewed them into. The dagger was stored in a wooden trunk in the garage for years and the mice had chewed a hole in the back and nested there for decades. They chewed up everything in the trunk! As I remember, I think he paid $13 dollars American for it in 1942 or 43. Thankz, Bobber Bob