African Short Sword for ID Somali???

kahnjar1 · 28th May 2021, 04:35 AM

A nice African short sword for ID and comment. Thinking maybe Somali.
Stu

Kubur · 28th May 2021, 08:14 AM

Merry Christmas...
Yes it's a billao, bellawa. But yours is very nice, the blade and the pommel are unusual.

Yvain · 28th May 2021, 01:00 PM

As Kubur, rightfully said, it is indeed most likely from Somalia and exhibits some similarities with the billao sword. However, the blade seems less assymetrical, and the hilt (especially the pommel) is very different. The construction of the hilt somewhat reminds me of the "tooray" dagger, maybe they are related and this is a local take on the billao?

Kubur · 29th May 2021, 07:47 AM

I agree it is the illegitimate child of a billao and a toora/dagger. So for sure from Somalia and because it is a short sword, it can be called a billao.

colin henshaw · 30th May 2021, 10:27 AM

Well its a Somali sword certainly, but the pommel is wrong. From the images, looks like someone has added a piece to the end of the hilt from a New Guinea or Solomons Islands object ?? which is strange.

Kubur · 31st May 2021, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Well its a Somali sword certainly, but the pommel is wrong. From the images, looks like someone has added a piece to the end of the hilt from a New Guinea or Solomons Islands object ?? which is strange.

HI Colin,

I have the feeling that you have a strong interest for Indonesian and Polynesian/Oceanian islands.
For me a patinated wood looks like patinated wood.
Please look at this link

https://www.randafricanart.com/Boni_..._Somalia3.html

The pattern of the wood carvings are very similar and IMHO there is no reason to believe that the pommel was replaced.

Kubur

Tim Simmons · 31st May 2021, 04:48 PM

I have too agree with Colin the replacement part is typically Massim.

Not hard to find how it should be, just one example.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=somali+swords

28th May 2021, 04:35 AM	#1
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,739	African Short Sword for ID Somali??? A nice African short sword for ID and comment. Thinking maybe Somali. Stu Attached Images

30th May 2021, 10:27 AM	#5
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Well its a Somali sword certainly, but the pommel is wrong. From the images, looks like someone has added a piece to the end of the hilt from a New Guinea or Solomons Islands object ?? which is strange. Attached Images

31st May 2021, 04:48 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	I have too agree with Colin the replacement part is typically Massim. Not hard to find how it should be, just one example. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=somali+swords Last edited by Tim Simmons; 31st May 2021 at 07:32 PM.

28th May 2021, 08:14 AM	#2
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Merry Christmas... Yes it's a billao, bellawa. But yours is very nice, the blade and the pommel are unusual.

28th May 2021, 01:00 PM	#3
Yvain Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: France Posts: 178	As Kubur, rightfully said, it is indeed most likely from Somalia and exhibits some similarities with the billao sword. However, the blade seems less assymetrical, and the hilt (especially the pommel) is very different. The construction of the hilt somewhat reminds me of the "tooray" dagger, maybe they are related and this is a local take on the billao?

29th May 2021, 07:47 AM	#4
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	I agree it is the illegitimate child of a billao and a toora/dagger. So for sure from Somalia and because it is a short sword, it can be called a billao.