Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 9th June 2007, 08:20 PM

Hi Lew,
Thank you so much for the info on that and the photo of the sabre. I see what you mean on the leatherwork, which really is excellent, and the ribs seem consistant. I think maybe the fact that earlier work in the 19th c. may have been produced more singularly than the stepped up production and quality diffused by volume in the 20th. They dont make nuthin' like they used to !!

I recall years ago talking with a gentleman who was Fulani from Guinea and showing him a photo of a Manding sabre, and asked what name it was called by. He told me they called it a 'kota', which is probably some more generic term in Fulani, but thought it may be applicable as the Fulani are of course established in Mali and Manding regions.

Any thoughts on the inscribed X ? Is the tassle a feature confined to the Manding ?

All the best,
Jim

9th June 2007, 08:20 PM	#11
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Hi Lew, Thank you so much for the info on that and the photo of the sabre. I see what you mean on the leatherwork, which really is excellent, and the ribs seem consistant. I think maybe the fact that earlier work in the 19th c. may have been produced more singularly than the stepped up production and quality diffused by volume in the 20th. They dont make nuthin' like they used to !! I recall years ago talking with a gentleman who was Fulani from Guinea and showing him a photo of a Manding sabre, and asked what name it was called by. He told me they called it a 'kota', which is probably some more generic term in Fulani, but thought it may be applicable as the Fulani are of course established in Mali and Manding regions. Any thoughts on the inscribed X ? Is the tassle a feature confined to the Manding ? All the best, Jim