Nice Manding Sword For Comment

Lew · 10th December 2005, 04:30 AM

Hi All

This auction just ended and I just missed getting sniped by $2

http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-African-Mand...QQcmdZViewItem

The sword seems to have a nice European blade on it? The leather work is real nice also.

Lew

Andrew · 10th December 2005, 05:16 AM

Nice looking sword, Lew.

The fullering looks European to me, but the tip is somehow odd.

Lew · 10th December 2005, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

Nice looking sword, Lew.

The fullering looks European to me, but the tip is somehow odd.

Andrew

Sometimes these swords were reground to fit a particular look or style. I have another one like this where the tip was actually reforged maybe due to an old break. I will post better pics once it arrives. I did a little search and I am pretty sure the blade came from FRENCH 1822 PATTERN CAVALRY SWORD there is one on Michael D Longs website that is a dead ringer for mine tip and all.

Lew

Tim Simmons · 10th December 2005, 08:24 AM

Great buy!!

Andrew · 11th December 2005, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Andrew

Sometimes these swords were reground to fit a particular look or style. I have another one like this where the tip was actually reforged maybe due to an old break. I will post better pics once it arrives. I did a little search and I am pretty sure the blade came from FRENCH 1822 PATTERN CAVALRY SWORD there is one on Michael D Longs website that is a dead ringer for mine tip and all.

Lew

Thanks, Lew. It's possible I know less about European sabers than I do about these swords. And that's saying something.

Lew · 17th December 2005, 06:06 PM

Hi Guys

Just arrived so hear is a good picture of the sword. Definately an old French or European blade.

Lew

Jim McDougall · 18th December 2005, 10:10 PM

Hi Lew,
That is an absolutely fantastic sabre!!! I agree that the hollow ground blade is most likely from a French cavalry sabre of probably mid 19th c. If I am not mistaken the cross section is known as 'Montmorency' form, popular on military sabres in the early 19th c. and named for the French officer who developed it. It also seems most of these were Klingenthal blades and usually marked on the back toward the blade root, it seems the hilt is covering that part of the blade on yours.
The Mandinga are a tribal group that are from regions of the Upper Niger that inhabit the western Sudan. The Fulani call them generally 'Malinke' which is actually one of the larger distinguishable groups and typically are found in the upper valleys of the Niger. I recall talking with a Fulani who was from Guinea and showing him a photo of one of these sabres. He immediately recognized it and indicated the term they called these by was 'kota' (probably loosely meaning sword of course) and noted the scabbard was called 'holga' (meaning loosely 'house').

Best regards,
Jim

10th December 2005, 04:30 AM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Nice Manding Sword For Comment Hi All This auction just ended and I just missed getting sniped by $2 http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-African-Mand...QQcmdZViewItem The sword seems to have a nice European blade on it? The leather work is real nice also. Lew

17th December 2005, 06:06 PM	#6
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Guys Just arrived so hear is a good picture of the sword. Definately an old French or European blade. Lew Attached Images

10th December 2005, 05:16 AM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Nice looking sword, Lew. The fullering looks European to me, but the tip is somehow odd.

10th December 2005, 08:24 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Great buy!!

18th December 2005, 10:10 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,940	Hi Lew, That is an absolutely fantastic sabre!!! I agree that the hollow ground blade is most likely from a French cavalry sabre of probably mid 19th c. If I am not mistaken the cross section is known as 'Montmorency' form, popular on military sabres in the early 19th c. and named for the French officer who developed it. It also seems most of these were Klingenthal blades and usually marked on the back toward the blade root, it seems the hilt is covering that part of the blade on yours. The Mandinga are a tribal group that are from regions of the Upper Niger that inhabit the western Sudan. The Fulani call them generally 'Malinke' which is actually one of the larger distinguishable groups and typically are found in the upper valleys of the Niger. I recall talking with a Fulani who was from Guinea and showing him a photo of one of these sabres. He immediately recognized it and indicated the term they called these by was 'kota' (probably loosely meaning sword of course) and noted the scabbard was called 'holga' (meaning loosely 'house'). Best regards, Jim