Original African Spatula-shaped Dagger with Heavily Decorated Scabbard - c.1800 Hotchkiss .303 development issues were resolved leading

development issues were resolved leading to the initial purchase of the Hotchkiss gun by the French Military in 1897

Although later outclassed by larger bombers

Overall length is 12 1/2 inches

The shoulder stock is designed to permit gripping with the left hand to hold it secure against the shoulder

but that was put under guard of MPs (Military Police)

Original African Spatula-shaped Dagger with Heavily Decorated Scabbard - c.1800 Hotchkiss .303 development issues were resolved leadingOriginal Item: Only One Available. This came into England in the early Victorian era around 1840 with returning Explorers. My father who was born in 1905 told me that as a boy he remembered seeing Atlases showing the Continent of Africa with "UNKNOWN" or "UNEXPLORED" printed across the interior. It was the likes of STANLEY and LIVINGSTONE who opened the central part of isolated Africa to the Western World. Our example of an early Central African