Sword sold as Toureg?? Surely Manding... help please
 

I have just bought this sword, described as Toureg (???) The scabbard seems to be of Manding style, the sword (76cms) has obvious European influences. With the conflict between the Manding people and France, at the end of the 19c, I am hoping that the blade may be a re-hilted French one. More likely, the blade is of local manufacture, the aluminium guard and handle suggests very early 20c onwards.
I have not recieved the sword yet, but I have these pictures.

Please if anyone has any comments or information on similar swords I would appreciate any contribution

Difficult to tell from the pictures but even though the blade has local decoration I feel it might be European from a machete perhaps?

Hi,

The blade seems heavily grinded, so it will be difficult to judge it's origin. I agree it can be a machete blade, or maybe a recent blade made of spring steel like a lot or West-african swords.

It is the first time I see this kind of aluminium handle. It as both a Tuareg and a European influence, interesting.

The scabbard seems new and the belt is far too short to be functional.

I am eager to see more pictures. Nice sword !

Sincerely,
Zan

If the pictures are not upside-down, it is a left-handed sword :)

Zan

Thankyou, Tim and Zan,
I am alittle confused, I thought the scabbard would be considered Manding.
Zan, you mentioned that the sword had Toureg influences..... please could you explain these influences.
I agree totally that the scabbard certainly looks new.
I personally have not seen an African sword with this type of handle and guard. Is this European style more widespread ( in Africa) than I realised?
Hopefully, I will receive the sword sometime this week, when I do, I'll post more pictures of the blade and handle.

Received sword today. Very disappointed... the blade was slightly bent and I was able to straighten it using my fingers.!!! :eek:
The blade has to be made of MILD steel, tempered or hardened steel would not have been so easy.
It does have balance, but no sharpened edge, so no 'cut and thrust' ....just the 'thrust'. ;)
So, unless un-tempered blades were commonplace/used this has to be a 'tourist' or copy.
Shame, because other than that it would be an interesting sword.
Please if you have any comments about the above, post them....thankyou.


ADDED INFORMATION. Since posting, I have given the sword a closer inspection, I am now certain this is no 'Tourist' piece... too much 'attention to detail'. The blade geometry looks right...and there is more 'spring' in the blade, than I realised...which (IMHO) leaves several possibilities.

1. It is some sort of dress sword or a sword of office/status
2. The blade has been 'over worked' and its lost it's temper during the heating/quenching process (unlikely)
3. I am totally wrong :confused: (more likely :p )

1. It is part of a mans costume. The blade is symbolic. They are still used as part of dress today. I would not be disappointed, nice scabbard. It is from a living tradition, probably from nomads, for how long will there world continue. To me these are worth consideration as much as other non fighting weapon. It just happens that the handle on this one is not the most attractive to us, but I bet when it was made and in its original setting it was a bobby dazzler.

Thanks Tim, according to the seller it was brought back to Belgium in 1960. I suppose I'm a little disappointed as it's not functional. I think on a scale of fish and chips it was just under 10, reasonable? ;) or not? :(

That is quite a few portions so not a bargain but not outlandish either. A good fighting version would take a lot more portions which is sometimes too much to eat in one go.

Sorry, I was out of town the past few days.

The Touareg influence is visible in the geometrical motifs of the handle. But I agree that the scabbard is typically Manding.

Don't be disapointed by the non functionnal blade. It is probably a parade sword so the blade is not essential. Tourist sword usually have a more decorated blade in that part of the word. Also, a "soft" blade will not be a good sword even for the least knowledgable tourist, so there is good hope it is a mans costume sword.

An interesting and unique sword.

Zan

Thankyou Tim and Zan, your comments are appreciated, and I have decided to keep the sword, I've never seen this design before ( for a Taureg sword, dress or otherwise) and its 'grown' on me. I doubt whether it is unique, but certainly very unusual.