African sword?

corrado26 · 9th July 2017, 04:20 PM

A friend of mine brought me this item and wanted to know what it is. The blade and the grip are made from one piece and there are to plates of horn riveted to the grip. Length of the blade is 42cm, width is 5,5cm, weight without the scabbard is 674g. The sword is rather heavy and very solid. The leather scabbard has copper mounts.
My first impression was Africa, but as I am absolutely no expert in this field at all I hope to get here some informative comments
Regards
corrado26

Tim Simmons · 9th July 2017, 04:30 PM

Scabbard stitching is not African or the guard. I do not think African, it looks Spanish colonial to me but I know little about that area. Nice rustic piece.

M ELEY · 10th July 2017, 12:19 AM

I'm with Tim 100% on this one. Spanish colonial. The crosspiece looks spot-on to a naval dirk that I have that I suspect is Portuguese/Brazilian. Here's the old thread, the dirk in question at the top above the British ivory hilted piece. The horn grip resembles those found on espadas and that Brazilian cutlass I mention so often...

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...5&page=2&pp=30

M ELEY · 10th July 2017, 12:34 AM

Some other things we can surmise is that its at least mid-19th based on the nice aging/patina to the brass/horn. The nails holding the grip together are blacksmith made/early. A side sword perhaps for a mounted or foot soldier?

corrado26 · 10th July 2017, 10:36 AM

Thanks for these very helpful answers - my friend will be very pleased to get to know where his sword probably comes from.
corrado26

kronckew · 10th July 2017, 10:46 AM

nice sword, i also thought 'spanish colonial' when i first saw it. crossguard is much like my 19c espada, sans finger ring....

9th July 2017, 04:20 PM	#1
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	African sword? A friend of mine brought me this item and wanted to know what it is. The blade and the grip are made from one piece and there are to plates of horn riveted to the grip. Length of the blade is 42cm, width is 5,5cm, weight without the scabbard is 674g. The sword is rather heavy and very solid. The leather scabbard has copper mounts. My first impression was Africa, but as I am absolutely no expert in this field at all I hope to get here some informative comments Regards corrado26 Attached Images

10th July 2017, 12:19 AM	#3
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,097	I'm with Tim 100% on this one. Spanish colonial. The crosspiece looks spot-on to a naval dirk that I have that I suspect is Portuguese/Brazilian. Here's the old thread, the dirk in question at the top above the British ivory hilted piece. The horn grip resembles those found on espadas and that Brazilian cutlass I mention so often... http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...5&page=2&pp=30 Last edited by M ELEY; 10th July 2017 at 12:29 AM.

10th July 2017, 10:46 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,183	nice sword, i also thought 'spanish colonial' when i first saw it. crossguard is much like my 19c espada, sans finger ring.... Attached Images

9th July 2017, 04:30 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Scabbard stitching is not African or the guard. I do not think African, it looks Spanish colonial to me but I know little about that area. Nice rustic piece.

10th July 2017, 12:34 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,097	Some other things we can surmise is that its at least mid-19th based on the nice aging/patina to the brass/horn. The nails holding the grip together are blacksmith made/early. A side sword perhaps for a mounted or foot soldier?

10th July 2017, 10:36 AM	#5
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,204	Thanks for these very helpful answers - my friend will be very pleased to get to know where his sword probably comes from. corrado26