David thanks for the interest and the link. I do not want to drift too far from the knives post here but it is important to understand the motives for there creation. The link shows how Vodun is a living view of life and not bound by a scripture. I am not an expert but feel some of the ideas in the link may have taken form and reflect infuences of late 20th century feminism. I post an extract from {Africas OGUN Old World And New} which I am using as my guide for investigation. I might being adding 2+2 = 5 about a ladies object but you can see how.

It is certainly possible that the item with the scabbard was a temple object. I took it to be a personel object a badge office or devotion, by the definate signs of carriage/suspension and wear to the scabbard loop. Pictures for examination.

As to the idea of a tradition in form; well the Swiss chap has one the same :shrug: anymore out there?

PS the first piece of text should follow the second.

A picture paints a thousand words
 

I see it as perhaps personel regalia used in scenes like this from many parts West Africa. Indeed a symbol of the wealth of the community. Belonging to the officiating priest would be rather cool. Sorry the picture is so large but not much point in showing it any smaller.

I do not know if this is right but seems to make more sense.

The bird element seen on these ceremonial cutlass is most probably nothing to do with the deity AJE and female life force. It is more likely to represent OBATALA who brings a chicken to earth, it's scratching in sand, scatters the sand and forms the world . OBATALA infulence on the cutlass would be to bring balance to the attributes of OGUN .

I read this which helps a lot. Shango, Obalata and Ogun are different but could be seen as rain water, freshwater and saltwater all the same.