Congolese weapons

Freddy · 15th December 2013, 05:36 PM

I haven't seen any threads on Central African weapons recently, so I thought : Why not show some of mine !

Here are some of my latest finds.

The first is a very nice Lobala knife. It has a well forged iron blade which is still very sharp. The wooden handle has been covered with a thick copper band.

Length : 45,5 cm.

Width of blade : approx. 10 cm.

Freddy · 15th December 2013, 05:45 PM

This knife or shortsword came with a sheath. Again a beautifully forged blade.
The wooden handle is very thin with copper banding. There a small copper nail on top of the handle.
This piece has a leather covered wooden sheath to which copper thread is added. To that, at the top and bottom of the sheath, some decorated thin metal (iron) sheets have been added.

I'm still trying to find out which tribe this one comes from.

Does anyone know ?

Total length in sheath : 40 cm.

Lenght of knife : 37,5 cm

Sajen · 15th December 2013, 06:35 PM

I like the second one! Nice piece.

Regards,

Detlef

Luc LEFEBVRE · 15th December 2013, 08:31 PM

Yes the second one is great. Never see before. I have to search.
...
I found this one in my documentation, come as Topoke.

Martin Lubojacky · 15th December 2013, 08:53 PM

The second one could be Lengola (?), Ngandu (?), Saka (?). In any case, I think it is rareness to find it complete, with the original sheath. Congratulations !

Martin

Freddy · 17th December 2013, 10:50 AM

Luc, I think you might be on the right track. The handle of the piece you showed is similar.
If we look at the base of the blade, it's identical to my piece.
I'll try to find some pics of Tetela knives.
Thanks.

Congoblades · 17th December 2013, 12:12 PM

Nice one Freddy,
Found this one on the net.

Tetela / Benge - Rdc Congo

colin henshaw · 18th December 2013, 07:58 AM

Good Congo knives, thanks for posting.

Could the second knife shown be made from a spearhead ?

Freddy · 21st December 2013, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Good Congo knives, thanks for posting.

Could the second knife shown be made from a spearhead ?

I don't think so, Colin.

Most Central African spears have spearheads with a socket. This knife has a tang which goes through the handle.

The shape of the blade could have some resemblance with the shape of some Congolese spearheads, though.

15th December 2013, 05:36 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Congolese weapons I haven't seen any threads on Central African weapons recently, so I thought : Why not show some of mine ! Here are some of my latest finds. The first is a very nice Lobala knife. It has a well forged iron blade which is still very sharp. The wooden handle has been covered with a thick copper band. Length : 45,5 cm. Width of blade : approx. 10 cm. Attached Images

15th December 2013, 05:45 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	And here is the second one This knife or shortsword came with a sheath. Again a beautifully forged blade. The wooden handle is very thin with copper banding. There a small copper nail on top of the handle. This piece has a leather covered wooden sheath to which copper thread is added. To that, at the top and bottom of the sheath, some decorated thin metal (iron) sheets have been added. I'm still trying to find out which tribe this one comes from. Does anyone know ? Total length in sheath : 40 cm. Lenght of knife : 37,5 cm Attached Images

15th December 2013, 08:31 PM	#4
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	Yes the second one is great. Never see before. I have to search. ... I found this one in my documentation, come as Topoke. Attached Images Last edited by Luc LEFEBVRE; 15th December 2013 at 09:17 PM.

17th December 2013, 12:12 PM	#7
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	Nice one Freddy, Found this one on the net. Tetela / Benge - Rdc Congo Attached Images

15th December 2013, 06:35 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,769	I like the second one! Nice piece. Regards, Detlef

15th December 2013, 08:53 PM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 841	The second one could be Lengola (?), Ngandu (?), Saka (?). In any case, I think it is rareness to find it complete, with the original sheath. Congratulations ! Martin

17th December 2013, 10:50 AM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Luc, I think you might be on the right track. The handle of the piece you showed is similar. If we look at the base of the blade, it's identical to my piece. I'll try to find some pics of Tetela knives. Thanks.

18th December 2013, 07:58 AM	#8
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Good Congo knives, thanks for posting. Could the second knife shown be made from a spearhead ?