Narrow Maasai swords

Pitt1999 · 27th February 2025, 10:21 PM

I posted these examples before when showcasing the Maasai bowie knife but I wanted to give my other 20th century Maasai blades their own post. My examples don't seem to fit the usual characteristics of Maasai seme from the 20th century. I do not possess an example of the more ubiquitous wide blade seme but I imagine the people viewing this post have an idea of what those look like.

These are shorter and much more slender than the more typical wide spatulate blades. The longest out of these examples has a blade of slightly over 13 inches while the smallest has a blade of 9¾ inches.

While handling them it is obvious that these are not balanced for the normal bushwhacking tasks that the spatulate blade examples are used for. They lack the heft that you would need to cut through any substantial vegetation.

Purely going off of photographs of Maasai warriors, I haven't seen any wearing these small dagger-like seme. Who amongst the Maasai would have worn these? Were they carried by warriors of a lower rank, women or children? My initial thought was that these were used for more delicate tasks that the wide heavy blades would have been too cumbersome and unwieldy to accomplish.

All comments are welcome and appreciated.

Pertinax · 28th February 2025, 06:31 PM

Hi Pitt1999!

These semes were bought in Zanzibar in a tourist shop, the length of the blades is 38 cm and 31 cm.

Sincerely,
Yuri

Sajen · 28th February 2025, 06:58 PM

In this context it is interesting to read through this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=seme

Jim McDougall · 1st March 2025, 03:16 PM

The Maasai 'seme' swords and the so named lion hunting spears (moran) are fascinating ethnographic weapons, and very much so from the complexity of the history of these tribes they are attributed to.

I have a pair of the moran spears I acquired about40 years ago which somehow never really properly researched nor catalogued (no photos either) along with a shield I believe reasonably modern. You have inspired me to see if I can get to these

The spears have quite long blades with pronounced central rib, and it seems the blade is about the same length as the haft. If I have understood correctly the ribbed blades, much as on the swords indicate older period ('old' typically 1900-1930). Earlier examples (very old are pre 1900).

From historic and anthropological points, the study of the Maasai is both intriguing and complex. There are many misunderstandings about the lion hunting etc. and the fact that they are primarily a cattle herding nation.

Apparently in the late 19th c. disease epidemics decimated the Maasai tribes as well as the rinderpest virus killing up to 90% of the cattle. Without getting into colonial issues etc. the reason I noted this is toward the dynamics involved in trying to date these weapons.

As a British protectorate from 1935-1955 there were ordinances prohibiting the metalworking etc. so I wonder if this had anything to do with the blades becoming those from reworked machetes (Martingale Co. in England).

27th February 2025, 10:21 PM	#1
Pitt1999 Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 108	Narrow Maasai swords I posted these examples before when showcasing the Maasai bowie knife but I wanted to give my other 20th century Maasai blades their own post. My examples don't seem to fit the usual characteristics of Maasai seme from the 20th century. I do not possess an example of the more ubiquitous wide blade seme but I imagine the people viewing this post have an idea of what those look like. These are shorter and much more slender than the more typical wide spatulate blades. The longest out of these examples has a blade of slightly over 13 inches while the smallest has a blade of 9¾ inches. While handling them it is obvious that these are not balanced for the normal bushwhacking tasks that the spatulate blade examples are used for. They lack the heft that you would need to cut through any substantial vegetation. Purely going off of photographs of Maasai warriors, I haven't seen any wearing these small dagger-like seme. Who amongst the Maasai would have worn these? Were they carried by warriors of a lower rank, women or children? My initial thought was that these were used for more delicate tasks that the wide heavy blades would have been too cumbersome and unwieldy to accomplish. All comments are welcome and appreciated. Attached Images

28th February 2025, 06:31 PM	#2
Pertinax Member Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: City by the Black Sea Posts: 197	Hi Pitt1999! These semes were bought in Zanzibar in a tourist shop, the length of the blades is 38 cm and 31 cm. Sincerely, Yuri Attached Images

28th February 2025, 06:58 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,123	In this context it is interesting to read through this thread: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...highlight=seme

1st March 2025, 03:16 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,099	The Maasai 'seme' swords and the so named lion hunting spears (moran) are fascinating ethnographic weapons, and very much so from the complexity of the history of these tribes they are attributed to. I have a pair of the moran spears I acquired about40 years ago which somehow never really properly researched nor catalogued (no photos either) along with a shield I believe reasonably modern. You have inspired me to see if I can get to these The spears have quite long blades with pronounced central rib, and it seems the blade is about the same length as the haft. If I have understood correctly the ribbed blades, much as on the swords indicate older period ('old' typically 1900-1930). Earlier examples (very old are pre 1900). From historic and anthropological points, the study of the Maasai is both intriguing and complex. There are many misunderstandings about the lion hunting etc. and the fact that they are primarily a cattle herding nation. Apparently in the late 19th c. disease epidemics decimated the Maasai tribes as well as the rinderpest virus killing up to 90% of the cattle. Without getting into colonial issues etc. the reason I noted this is toward the dynamics involved in trying to date these weapons. As a British protectorate from 1935-1955 there were ordinances prohibiting the metalworking etc. so I wonder if this had anything to do with the blades becoming those from reworked machetes (Martingale Co. in England).