Mystery sword - tourist/souvenir piece?
 

Hi all,

I recently obtained a sword I have not been able to place, it has a wide leaf-shaped blade but a constricted "neck" with small spikes near the hilt. There are somewhat faint V-shaped incisions along the center of the blade (hopefully visible in closeup picture). The hilt is wrapped in copper wire and has a fish tail pommel. Overall, the sword is quite heavy and very sharp. Unfortunately my search for a cultural/regional attribution has not turned up any matches, I suspect it might be a ceremonial item or possibly a tourist piece. Any insights on an ID would be greatly appreciated.

Overall length: 58.7 cm (~23 in.)
Blade width: 9.6 cm (~3.8 in.)

- ADS

Looks African! Search here: https://african-weapons.com/gallery?...word-and-knife
Maybe you will find a match! ;)

Regards,
Detlef

Hi Detlef,

Thanks, it does look somewhat similar to the Lele/Lulua sword on pg. 15, but the hilt is odd. I wonder if it is a recent replacement?

- ADS

Hi ADS,

I am very unsure about this blade, never have seen something similar before!? I would contact the owner of the site and would ask him if he has seen something similar before.

Regards,
Detlef

Hello ADS

I support Detlef. Pay attention to the copper wire on the handle. It is round and looks like an electrical cable. Old African swords usually have rough, hammered brass.

Regards, Yuri

It looks like an Central African Luba sword where the hilt has been crudely replaced by a flat hilt wrapped in brass

The decoration on the blade seems to suggest Africa. If a person came across some heavier round copper wire? Why not use it.

Of course the sword was made in Africa, but it is not old.

Hi Juri,

I would rather assume that an old blade has been given a new handle. The copper winding also doesn't look what I am used to seeing with African blades. I suspect that this was not done in Africa!

Regards,
Detlef

Hi Detlef

We may no longer be able to reliably know the truth about this sword.

In African countries, various ethnic swords and spears are produced for tourists. Few local artisans make traditional items of their tribes. This is mainly done "on African motives", so braided electrical cable on the handle is quite possible. With the development of tourism, the demand is very high, almost every tourist takes home an African sword or African spear in their suitcase.

Regards, Yuri