Chamba short sword for comment

Jim McDougall · 20th April 2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I like the simple guard and handle/pommel too.

Me too!

Martin Lubojacky · 20th April 2011, 11:55 PM

Hello,

Enclosed please find photos of a similar sword which I bought i Maroua some time ago and I sow it also in Rhoumsiki on Cameroonian side of Nigeria - Cameroon borderland (Mandara). I already posted this sword before, now I am comming back as it has the same features. The blade is heavy, thick, 70 cm long and 5 cm wide. I like the crossguard

Regards,

Martin

Martin Lubojacky · 21st April 2011, 12:00 AM

photos

Iain · 21st April 2011, 09:49 AM

Cau Martin,

Thanks very much for posting this. I knew you had several pieces from the general area and this is pretty much an exact match for construction method, pommel and guard style. The thickness of these blades is rather surprising to me as the weight is significant. I imagine your sword must weigh over 1.5kg?

I would imagine your sword may also be from the Chamba - who split into several distinct groups, one of which moved into the Cameroon highlands and adopted many local customs. This is a rather good overview of the people and their influence on the area: http://www.bca-usa.org/bca/balinyonga.html

Does anyone know of attributed Chama shields or spears? I would like to get a sense of how the entire ensemble of a Chamba warrior would look like.

Best,

Iain

Jim McDougall · 21st April 2011, 09:22 PM

Absolutely fantastic Martin!!!! Thank you so much for coming in on this, and especially for sharing this clearly important and corroborative example of sword. I had feared that anyone else with interest or knowledge on African swords had 'left the building'!!! Then you arrive like the cavalry

Yay!!!

Though I cannot claim any expertise on African weapons, I enjoy learning and these examples posted by Iain and you are intriguing anomalies which really add dimension to what has been learned on takoubas and the other swords of the regions.

All the best,
Jim

Martin Lubojacky · 22nd April 2011, 09:04 AM

Thank you Jim and Yain. One my colleagues bought simmilar blade recently but without crossguard. The blade is old, but they made new (conntemporary) scabbard and braid of handle in Tebbu style, which does not fit, Nevertheless, the blade is interesting - I will find it and snap it.
Regards
Martin

Iain · 22nd April 2011, 12:24 PM

I would be very interested to see the sword from your colleague. I am also curious about how the original handles on these swords should look. Mine has small pieces of cloth still on the pommel and under the guard. I wonder if the style would have been cloth wrapping then leather braided - perhaps even in a Tebu style, which is also seen on some takouba from this area.

Best,

Iain

21st April 2011, 12:00 AM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	photos Attached Images

20th April 2011, 11:55 PM	#2
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Hello, Enclosed please find photos of a similar sword which I bought i Maroua some time ago and I sow it also in Rhoumsiki on Cameroonian side of Nigeria - Cameroon borderland (Mandara). I already posted this sword before, now I am comming back as it has the same features. The blade is heavy, thick, 70 cm long and 5 cm wide. I like the crossguard Regards, Martin

21st April 2011, 09:49 AM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Cau Martin, Thanks very much for posting this. I knew you had several pieces from the general area and this is pretty much an exact match for construction method, pommel and guard style. The thickness of these blades is rather surprising to me as the weight is significant. I imagine your sword must weigh over 1.5kg? I would imagine your sword may also be from the Chamba - who split into several distinct groups, one of which moved into the Cameroon highlands and adopted many local customs. This is a rather good overview of the people and their influence on the area: http://www.bca-usa.org/bca/balinyonga.html Does anyone know of attributed Chama shields or spears? I would like to get a sense of how the entire ensemble of a Chamba warrior would look like. Best, Iain

21st April 2011, 09:22 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	Absolutely fantastic Martin!!!! Thank you so much for coming in on this, and especially for sharing this clearly important and corroborative example of sword. I had feared that anyone else with interest or knowledge on African swords had 'left the building'!!! Then you arrive like the cavalry Yay!!! Though I cannot claim any expertise on African weapons, I enjoy learning and these examples posted by Iain and you are intriguing anomalies which really add dimension to what has been learned on takoubas and the other swords of the regions. All the best, Jim

22nd April 2011, 09:04 AM	#6
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Thank you Jim and Yain. One my colleagues bought simmilar blade recently but without crossguard. The blade is old, but they made new (conntemporary) scabbard and braid of handle in Tebbu style, which does not fit, Nevertheless, the blade is interesting - I will find it and snap it. Regards Martin

22nd April 2011, 12:24 PM	#7
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	I would be very interested to see the sword from your colleague. I am also curious about how the original handles on these swords should look. Mine has small pieces of cloth still on the pommel and under the guard. I wonder if the style would have been cloth wrapping then leather braided - perhaps even in a Tebu style, which is also seen on some takouba from this area. Best, Iain