Ovambo Fish-Tail Dagger, Namibia/Angola

An Ovambo fish-tail dagger from Namibia/Angola, likely Ondonga or another Oshiwambo-speaking group of the Ovambo people. The handle and sheath are cut from a single piece of dense, dark hardwood, carved into a stylized fish-tail form and split into two halves that seat together perfectly, a hallmark of this knife type, traditionally called ndoro or omukonda.

The blade is hand-forged trade steel with a symmetrical, double-edged leaf shape, showing hammer and file marks consistent with non-industrial production.