African piece for coments

fernando · 6th December 2007, 06:10 PM

I guess this from Kenia. The seller was so ignorant of the weapons theme that she called it Portuguese

Is it called a simi or a seme ?
Blade length 37 cms. with a central ridge in both sides.
Total length 49,5 cms ( 19 1/2" ); quite a short specimen, right ?
With 400 grams, it feels amazingly heavy, i would say like a weapon.
The grip is covered by what seems to be very thin leather, "tightened" with a nice twisting efect at its front end. Surprisingly, no seam visible.
The tang goes trough all the grip, and it's bent at the top.
Could those members with more experienced eyes tell what tribe this is from ? is it Kikuyu, or other?
Also a opinnion on its aproximate age would be wellcome.
And obviously any other coments at all.
Thanks a lot
Fernando

Tim Simmons · 6th December 2007, 06:19 PM

Looks like a weapon. Looks like a seme. I have never seen one like this. I do wonder if this is a Congo weapon. Is there some triangular decoration on the edge of the blade? Freddy may be able to give more information.

Just been looking in a few books and it is an East African knife. looks to be a nice old piece.

Tim Simmons · 6th December 2007, 06:44 PM

Looks like one of these. The book the picture is from says Massai but I would not take that as the be all and end all.

fernando · 6th December 2007, 08:49 PM

Thanks a lot Tim, for both coments and drawing.
So it is a seme, not a simi !
No decorations at all. Only signs of age. A little mark on the edge may be no more that a little forging defect.
Let's see what Freddy comes up with ... if he will please

.
Obviously also any other members are wellcome to coment

.
Fernando

Lew · 6th December 2007, 09:14 PM

It seems to be an older Simi/Seme sword from the Massai.

Lew

fernando · 7th December 2007, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

It seems to be an older Simi/Seme sword from the Massai.

Lew

Thanks a lot for your input, Lew. Would you say prior to 1900 ?
Fernando

Freddy · 7th December 2007, 08:30 AM

I agree with Lew. This is an older seme from the Masai.

I once read somewhere that older seme always have a prominent middleribe. This is the case with your sword. Newer ones are often grind down from European machetes or just from a flat piece of metal.

The leather covered handle also shows some age, I think.

The size is right. My seme measures 51 cm, so that's about the same size.

fernando · 7th December 2007, 01:47 PM

Dank u wel, Freddy

.
I will register it as a Maasai piece, and am pleased is not modern stuff, as also the price wasn't so bad ... for my place

If we don't see before:
Zalig Kerstfeest

Fernando

6th December 2007, 06:10 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	African piece for coments I guess this from Kenia. The seller was so ignorant of the weapons theme that she called it Portuguese Is it called a simi or a seme ? Blade length 37 cms. with a central ridge in both sides. Total length 49,5 cms ( 19 1/2" ); quite a short specimen, right ? With 400 grams, it feels amazingly heavy, i would say like a weapon. The grip is covered by what seems to be very thin leather, "tightened" with a nice twisting efect at its front end. Surprisingly, no seam visible. The tang goes trough all the grip, and it's bent at the top. Could those members with more experienced eyes tell what tribe this is from ? is it Kikuyu, or other? Also a opinnion on its aproximate age would be wellcome. And obviously any other coments at all. Thanks a lot Fernando Attached Images

6th December 2007, 06:44 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Looks like one of these. The book the picture is from says Massai but I would not take that as the be all and end all. Attached Images

6th December 2007, 08:49 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thanks a lot Tim, for both coments and drawing. So it is a seme, not a simi ! No decorations at all. Only signs of age. A little mark on the edge may be no more that a little forging defect. Let's see what Freddy comes up with ... if he will please . Obviously also any other members are wellcome to coment . Fernando Attached Images

6th December 2007, 06:19 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Looks like a weapon. Looks like a seme. I have never seen one like this. I do wonder if this is a Congo weapon. Is there some triangular decoration on the edge of the blade? Freddy may be able to give more information. Just been looking in a few books and it is an East African knife. looks to be a nice old piece.

6th December 2007, 09:14 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	It seems to be an older Simi/Seme sword from the Massai. Lew

7th December 2007, 08:30 AM	#7
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I agree with Lew. This is an older seme from the Masai. I once read somewhere that older seme always have a prominent middleribe. This is the case with your sword. Newer ones are often grind down from European machetes or just from a flat piece of metal. The leather covered handle also shows some age, I think. The size is right. My seme measures 51 cm, so that's about the same size.

7th December 2007, 01:47 PM	#8
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Dank u wel, Freddy . I will register it as a Maasai piece, and am pleased is not modern stuff, as also the price wasn't so bad ... for my place If we don't see before: Zalig Kerstfeest Fernando