|
24th February 2006, 02:54 PM | #1 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
|
OLD NGALA SWORD FOR COMMENT
Hi Guys
This arrived a few days ago. I was able to clean off some of the surface rust. It seems to be in decent shape iron binding and the hilt has no cracks in it. Let me know what you think. Total length is 27" with a 21" blade. Lew |
24th February 2006, 05:49 PM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,806
|
Looks great. From the picture it is a little difficult to see if it has or has had a sharp edge. I have not got one of these, I need one!!!! Tim
|
24th February 2006, 05:57 PM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium)
Posts: 830
|
Nice
Hi Lew,
Nice piece. I got mine last week. Total length 27,2" (68 cm), length of blade 20,4" (51 cm). The handle has iron binding and also some copper binding. These 'executioner's swords' all look alike, but perhaps by comparing the pictures of both swords, we can notice some differences. I think mine has a more slender blade. There's a huge variation of this type of sword. A very good (and complete) book is : EXECUTION KNIVES & DERIVATIVES (Tribal Arms Monographs Vol 1/N°2) by Christian Gosseau Published by Tribal Arts/Brussels in 1997 I checked the book and the author says that our swords were used by the following tribes : Ngombe, Doko, Western Mongo. Indigenous names : Ngulu, Ngolo, Ngwolo, M'Bolo, Gulu, Ntsaka He also writes that the function of these swords changed from weapon to parade and dance knife. |
24th February 2006, 11:05 PM | #4 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: France
Posts: 472
|
NGULU
Good execution knife before 1940, called NGULU.
Ngombe, Doko, Mongo. http://lulef.free.fr/html/doko.html Luc |
25th February 2006, 05:17 PM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Italia
Posts: 1,243
|
THIS IS MINE
|
15th December 2006, 01:55 PM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,806
|
New for Christmas decorations
Just came up at the right time. Very sharp indeed, had to be careful cleaning it. I think this one is quite early.
|
15th December 2006, 05:37 PM | #7 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Belgium
Posts: 171
|
Nice swords, these are one of my favorites, I started with two of those collecting african weapons.
These are mine, the 2 first ones are both signed by the "artist" the second is also signed with a date, 1955. The tirth one is the oldest (late 19th century), see the size of the handle. I want some more of these, one with the copper nails like Tim's example and ofcourse a double one like Luc's one. but with a small budget like mine it could thake a while extract from EXECUTION KNIVES & DERIVATIVES (Tribal Arms Monographs Vol 1/N°2) "It is notworthy that in early examples, dating before the twentieth century, the three spherical bulges on the handle below the grip were often smaller than in later knives..." |
|
|