African Arms
 

Those of you who like African arms may find this site intresting;

This is a custom maker I saw one of his swords on ebay last year priced at ten times what a good quality original would cost :shrug:

That's pretty cool! I think this is a rare step in the right direction. :D

Question is, would you actively use a "good quality original" (antique?).. ?
I think his efforts are commendable... and I also think that the world of ethnographic weaponry/tools needs passioned makers like him (along with everyday users, martial artists, and today's descendants of these traditions) as much as it needs scholars, collectors, and historians. :)

The answer
I would more likely use a older piece that I paid a couple of hundred for than one of his for $2000. Most of the weapons he is showing seem more status pieces than weapons. Although daggers and some forms of swords were used in battle the real fighting weapons were spear axe and club along with the bow.

I found this site last year. I am very impressed with his work. As someone who broke his first 'authentic' Congo spear, I would rather use a well crafted reproduction. I think he is filling a nice niche, trying to link the past with the present. There is not alot of mainstream info out there, and I think his work would shed some light on how things were done.

Sorry guys, but this is a commercial site. Post it in swap if you want, but not here.

Nkante

First thing what were you doing with the spear that made it break?You said his work would shed light on how things were done? As far as forging the blade ? I am sure he uses heavier stock high carbon tool steel and if he uses a gas forge than it wouldn't be the way things were done. He does nice work but to me these are African weapons on steroids using .250 thick stock. There are so older African weapons on the market today that I can pick up an old spear and use it against soft home made targets. Throwing these types of old spears into wooden targets are not what they were designed for. Remember people who lived in the Congo basically ran around in a loin cloth so any type of metalic weapon whether steel or even copper could be very deadly. As far as I know there is no established form of an African martial arts weapons system other than some stick fighting forms?

spear control
 

A big round bale of hay is a nice target that doesn't hurt your spear