A second, older Baule sword

[Bill M]

Thank you for the warm reception on my first Baule sword. I like these swords very much, also.

Here is one just gotten. Older and more worn.

You will see in the first picture that the scabbard does not even cover the blade.

See picture #7 for detail sewing the back of the scabbard tip.

The shells have a glorious color and almost surreal presence.

I am getting out my Ren wax, do a little preserving.

If only it could talk, what stories!

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks Bill! These really are fantastic!
Are these shells the cowrie shells? Are they intended to represent wealth, or is other meaning implied....too much tradition for simple decoration.....beautiful as it is.

[G. McCormack]

Awesome swords, love that last photo seeing the two together. Beautiful, Bill.

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thanks Bill! These really are fantastic!
Are these shells the cowrie shells? Are they intended to represent wealth, or is other meaning implied....too much tradition for simple decoration.....beautiful as it is.

Hi Jim,

As Freddy said in a earlier post,

Originally Posted by Freddy

I found a similar sword in the book 'Afrikanische Waffen' by Werner Fischer and Manfred A. Zirngibl (1978).

The shells on the sheath belong to the spondylus-family. They are naturally red, but are polished in order to give them a smooth surface before using them as a decorative addition.

Here's the pic from their book :

Since the older sword pictured in this post is almost identical to the one posted by Freddy, I would hope he could give us some more information about it.

[Tim Simmons]

What!!!! you have two of them. Lucky chap.