East African safari

[Tim Simmons]

This is my latest purchase. I am getting very interested in the knife/swords from the areas between the Seme and the classic Shona knife, all be it a collector defined term. A chum has a very nice one with some differences, a fine polished handle, hairless scabbard, the blade is the same overall shape but with a light midrib and I think I recall the blade being all black. I rather fancied it but the trade at the time was a little too strong but I may have another crack at it. Anyway look at these pictures the blade is just under 15inches or 38.5cm the handle is 4 1/2 inches or 12.5cm. The handle appealed the most. The scabbard is made of two very thin sheets of wood covered in Cow hide? the loops are made from vegetal fibers. Compere the outward flare at the forte to the large Rwandan/Tutsi sword. I am certain that there is a variation of design that can almost be followed like foot steps.