Leopard Society Dagger

An iron dagger, with one large blade, and two smaller ones on either side. The handle is wrapped in raw hide and twisted fibre. This may be a Leopard Society dagger; similar devices have been thought to have been used by members of the so-called Human Leopards, or Leopard society, as a means of blaming the deaths of their victims on leopards.

Further Information

• Type: Weapons, armour
• Object: Leopard Society Dagger
• Materials: Metal, Vegetable, organic fibre, Leather, animal skin
• Culture Group: Mende, Sherbro
• Dimensions: 220mm [L] x 85mm [W] x 30mm [C]
• Production Date: Pre 1904
• Associated Places: Unknown
• Associated People: Thomas Joshua Alldridge (Collector); G. Garrett
• Museum: British Museum
• Accession Number: BM:Af.1904.415.16

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