Takouba with silvered hilt and European blade

[Iain]

Hi Colin and Jim,

Thanks so much for your responses. Fascinating stuff!

Regarding the repousse hilt work - I looked at a few pieces I have and have had and this style of work seems pretty common, its just not as dramatically done as on this example.

Regarding the potential for the motif on the hilt to be related to shackles or leg irons, I need to dig around a bit to try and understand if these were used in Hausa/Fulani slave raids. I don't, off the top of my head, recall them being mentioned in period sources when Europeans witnessed these raids (Clapperton was one as I recall). But that doesn't really rule their use out. The ones illustrated I believe are from the west African coast? Certainly would lend a slightly macabre angle to the piece.

One thing I'd mention, which perhaps doesn't show perfectly in the photos is that the pommel is bare iron at the top. I'm not sure if it ever had a brass plate on the top. I've never seen a brass hilt where the tang peened over the brass. So I kind of assumed this one was made as it is. I've added a larger photo to show this off better.

Regarding the blade, the C.Lutters & Co mark seems the closest in the pose of the lion. I'll try to get a better photo of it this evening, perhaps the engraving and details will provide some further clues. I am skeptical this was done natively, although I guess it could always have been added at an entry point into the continent like the north African ports. Any thoughts on the age of the blade?

Thanks again for the interest and comments guys!