Unknown sickle knife

Freddy · 15th July 2006, 06:44 PM

Here's one which is a bit of a mystery to me. The way the handle is contructed this sickle knife reminds me of weapons from the Konda tribe.

But I have never seen this shape before. Perhaps someone has another idea ?

The blade is shaped like a true sickle with a small metal extension near the handle. The cutting edge is at the inside of the curve. It's decorated with lines forming triangles. The metal also has rectangular dots beaten into it.

The handle is wood with some iron banding near the blade.

dimensions :

height : 30 cm
handle : 10,7 cm
width of blade : 3,7 cm

ariel · 16th July 2006, 02:59 AM

Reminescent of the mambeli, isn't it?

Freddy · 16th July 2006, 09:14 PM

'Mambeli' is a Mangbetu type of sickle knife (also called : trumbash). Their weapons are heavier and the form is quite different.

In this weapon, I see more a derived form of elongated sickle knife like this one. This is a small sickle weapon from the Zande :

Tim Simmons · 16th July 2006, 09:27 PM

Once again you show us a really great thing. I bet you have the set!

Freddy · 17th July 2006, 08:29 PM

Tim, you'll have to check it out, should you ever visit Ghent

15th July 2006, 06:44 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Unknown sickle knife Here's one which is a bit of a mystery to me. The way the handle is contructed this sickle knife reminds me of weapons from the Konda tribe. But I have never seen this shape before. Perhaps someone has another idea ? The blade is shaped like a true sickle with a small metal extension near the handle. The cutting edge is at the inside of the curve. It's decorated with lines forming triangles. The metal also has rectangular dots beaten into it. The handle is wood with some iron banding near the blade. dimensions : height : 30 cm handle : 10,7 cm width of blade : 3,7 cm

16th July 2006, 02:59 AM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Reminescent of the mambeli, isn't it?

16th July 2006, 09:14 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	'Mambeli' is a Mangbetu type of sickle knife (also called : trumbash). Their weapons are heavier and the form is quite different. In this weapon, I see more a derived form of elongated sickle knife like this one. This is a small sickle weapon from the Zande :

16th July 2006, 09:27 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Once again you show us a really great thing. I bet you have the set!

17th July 2006, 08:29 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Tim, you'll have to check it out, should you ever visit Ghent