Telek

The telek (also gozma, rilok) is a type of straight, double-edged dagger used by the Tuareg of North Africa. It is held in a scabbard strapped to the arm.

Characteristics include distinctive pommels which are often cross-shaped; previous writers such as Stone have inferred Christian symbolism with this and its Saharan companion sidearm, the cross-hilted takouba, but this is highly unlikely as the Tuareg have never been Christianized. Some telek are made from reused European stiletto blades fitted to locally-made hilts, but traditionally they are forged by local smiths.

Similar arm daggers in the Aïr region are known as gozma; this term is often considered interchangeable with telek in the online ethnological arms markets.

Originals:
 * http://www.forensicfashion.com/1899TuaregWarrior.html iron, Tuareg, Ahaggar Mountains, Algeria
 * http://www.fieldserviceantiquearms.co.uk/19th-century-tuareg-arm-dagger--telek-499-p.asp iron, Tuareg, prob. Niger
 * http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=605 iron, Tuareg, prob. Niger
 * http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=2970 iron, Tuareg, prob. Niger
 * http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=4476 iron, Tuareg, prob. Niger
 * http://www.oriental-arms.com/item.php?id=4755 iron, Tuareg, prob. Niger
 * http://sahelarms.com/index.php?id=k0005-exceptional-telek-arm-dagger steel (European blade), Tuareg, prob. Niger
 * http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?15620-Gozma Tuareg, prob. Niger
 * http://www.vikingsword.com/ethforum/images/armdag.jpg (top right) Tuareg, Libya (bottom) Tuareg, Agadez, Niger