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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 444
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Hello, good people!
I recently picked up this item. I'm quite certain it is African. The pommel and use of brass tacks is a style I have seen, but I can't place. Nor, can I remember the correct attribution to use as a search term to find past threads. The dimensions are shown in the photos. It is sharpened on both sides and the fullers are offset (rather than directly opposite on either face of the blade). My first thought was an unusual variant of a shotel (gurade), but the proportions and overall style seems more West or Central African. So...what are your thoughts? Thanks much! -Rob Last edited by shayde78; 20th October 2022 at 03:02 AM. Reason: Forgot photos! |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Belgium
Posts: 145
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Afrika, Congo: Ngombe-Doko.
Regards Marc |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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Agree, Congo tribal sword. Not properly a sickle as it is double-edged,, more like the gurade or shotel, as you mentioned.
The copper or brass strip winding on the grip seems to be indicative of the area. Here's a Boa sword from the Azande tribe in Congo. The two halves longitudinally are slightly overlapped and forge welded to form a central thickening that stiffens the fairly thin blade rather than being fullered. I also have a Boa sword, like this one, but the grip is not wrapped. See also: Mambele Sickle sword which is a single edged sword, sharp on the inside of the curve. It also has a link to a YouTube video on how they are used. (The link shows my sword) Another by a well known sword person : African Sickle sword by Skallagrim. it also shows a map of the area that they are common in, central Africa, bordering the Congo to the north. He actually does some cutting with it. Last edited by kronckew; 20th October 2022 at 01:13 PM. |
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#4 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Leiden, NL
Posts: 474
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I have this chunky one, which I bought from Rick / rsword a few years ago. He described it as Ngbandi.
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,167
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Cool ngbandi one, i see the large end cone is intact, the OP's one looks like it may have been broken or cut off to enable better pronation of the wrist that these wide disks (like on a talwar) restrict the bending of the wrist.
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,217
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That is an interesting theory; I have owned several and they all seemed to have a similar-sized piece missing from the handle. I had only thought it to be a strange coincidence or a characteristic of the type of wood they used, but your suggestion makes sense.
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