Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 24th February 2006, 02:54 PM   #1
Lew
(deceased)
 
Lew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast USA
Posts: 3,191
Default OLD NGALA SWORD FOR COMMENT

Hi Guys

This arrived a few days ago. I was able to clean off some of the surface rust. It seems to be in decent shape iron binding and the hilt has no cracks in it. Let me know what you think. Total length is 27" with a 21" blade.


Lew
Attached Images
   
Lew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th February 2006, 05:49 PM   #2
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,806
Default

Looks great. From the picture it is a little difficult to see if it has or has had a sharp edge. I have not got one of these, I need one!!!! Tim
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th February 2006, 05:57 PM   #3
Freddy
Member
 
Freddy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium)
Posts: 830
Thumbs up Nice

Hi Lew,

Nice piece. I got mine last week. Total length 27,2" (68 cm), length of blade 20,4" (51 cm). The handle has iron binding and also some copper binding.








These 'executioner's swords' all look alike, but perhaps by comparing the pictures of both swords, we can notice some differences. I think mine has a more slender blade.

There's a huge variation of this type of sword. A very good (and complete) book is :

EXECUTION KNIVES & DERIVATIVES (Tribal Arms Monographs Vol 1/N°2)
by Christian Gosseau
Published by Tribal Arts/Brussels in 1997


I checked the book and the author says that our swords were used by the following tribes : Ngombe, Doko, Western Mongo.
Indigenous names : Ngulu, Ngolo, Ngwolo, M'Bolo, Gulu, Ntsaka
He also writes that the function of these swords changed from weapon to parade and dance knife.
Freddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24th February 2006, 11:05 PM   #4
Luc LEFEBVRE
Member
 
Luc LEFEBVRE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: France
Posts: 472
Default NGULU

Good execution knife before 1940, called NGULU.
Ngombe, Doko, Mongo.

http://lulef.free.fr/html/doko.html

Luc
Luc LEFEBVRE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th February 2006, 05:17 PM   #5
Flavio
Member
 
Flavio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Italia
Posts: 1,243
Arrow

THIS IS MINE
Attached Images
   
Flavio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th December 2006, 01:55 PM   #6
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,806
Smile New for Christmas decorations

Just came up at the right time. Very sharp indeed, had to be careful cleaning it. I think this one is quite early.



Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th December 2006, 05:37 PM   #7
Congoblades
Member
 
Congoblades's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Belgium
Posts: 171
Default

Nice swords, these are one of my favorites, I started with two of those collecting african weapons.
These are mine, the 2 first ones are both signed by the "artist" the second is also signed with a date, 1955. The tirth one is the oldest (late 19th century), see the size of the handle. I want some more of these, one with the copper nails like Tim's example and ofcourse a double one like Luc's one. but with a small budget like mine it could thake a while

extract from EXECUTION KNIVES & DERIVATIVES (Tribal Arms Monographs Vol 1/N°2)
"It is notworthy that in early examples, dating before the twentieth century, the three spherical bulges on the handle below the grip were often smaller than in later knives..."
Attached Images
  
Congoblades is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th December 2006, 07:09 PM   #8
Tim Simmons
Member
 
Tim Simmons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,806
Default

My example has a well tempered thin springy blade rather similar to the last part of a cavalry saber so it would be possible to use as so often called, an execution sword. So there must be truth in the old travellers tales and journal illustrations that this practise did happen.
Tim Simmons is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15th December 2006, 08:15 PM   #9
carlos
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 737
Default ANOTHER NGALA

BEATIFUL SWORDS!!!! CONGRATULATIONS , IS A GREAT ADQUISITION!! I HAVE ANOTHER LIKE THIS.
CARLOS
Attached Images
   
carlos is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.