Short sword West Africa
 

This form of hilt of swords and knives is characteristic of the tribes of West Africa, possibly the Akan people, who founded the state of Ashanti (in some sources Asante) or Bole.

The shape of the handle is also characteristic of other tribes that inhabited the Kingdoms of Dahomey, Benin and neighboring states.

Total length in sheath - 470 mm, sword length - 460 mm, blade length - 335 mm, blade width at the hilt - 37 mm, blade thickness - 5 mm, weight - 292 g

I would appreciate your comment.

Regards, Yuri

it has some similarities with these 2 Mandingo daggers ( 36 - 42cm )

Thank you gp

I saw these daggers.

It is possible that this is Mandingo; it seems to me that it is not possible to accurately attribute it in view of the fact that tribes migrated to this territory, some states disappeared, and new ones were formed.

Regards, Yuri

some more on its style:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ngo#post258555


http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1687

Well I dunno where its from, but I like it. A very nice piece.

Thank you gp

I will collect more information

Regards, Yuri

You're welcome Yuri !

best regards


Gunar

Hello Juri,

Gunar is correct, it's a long Mandingo dagger or Moorish dagger, a very nice one, congrats! Compare: https://african-weapons.com/gallery?...agger-36-42-cm
Tribes don't care about borders or States.

Regards,
Detlef

Yes Mandingo, nice one.
Regards Marc

Many thanks to David R, Gunar, Detlef, Marc for comments

Regards, Yuri

an epiphany
 

Interesting. I had never noticed it before but there are several stylistic similarities, particularly in Detlef's examples #1 and #3 from left, with the Brazilian foca de ponta. Notably the bulbous pommel, over all profile, and the decorations on the ricasso.

You are correct, these daggers are very similar in their design, Wolf-Dieter Miersch has this dagger on his page: https://african-weapons.com/gallery?...m-mali-39-2-cm
I've pointed out years ago that this dagger is Brazilian and informed Wolf-Dieter so he changed the description. ;)

Regards,
Detlef

Mandingo dagger and Brazilian foca de ponta are very similar.

Perhaps the Mandingo, who were enslaved and ended up in Brazil, began producing daggers there.

My thoughts exactly. Here is an, not that old in my opinion, example that was for sale recently. Check out the flair on the sheath al la kaskara and if I remember correctly some west African short swords as well.

I think it's more of a coincidental similarity. Handle construction, ferrule and also the ricasso (if any) show differences.

Compare with three 19th century examples from my collection.

Perhaps this is a coincidental similarity.

But in any case, the tribes that fell into slavery and ended up in other countries brought with them their culture and customs.

Certainly! :)

The OP dagger/sword is nice! How is the balance? Did it have a chape originally to cover the textile bulb on the bottom of the sheath?

The blade metal is not of very good quality. I bought the dagger already in this condition, I just cleaned the blade of dirt.

On the subject of similarities between African and Brazilian knives : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=27589