sucker for African sickles

Tim Simmons · 31st October 2007, 08:28 PM

or African sickles for a sucker?

Two new bits. I had to be a little creative with the handle on one. It was all unravelled, the copper just needed putting back in place with very minor adjustment. The twisted steel was more damaged but with the help of a special home made gunge technique i now think it looks quite presentable.

No matter how hard I try I just cannot see these as real war swords. There are so many more truly offencive sickle weapons. I am going to suggest that apart from the brass or copper versions which are clearly status or parade objects. That these may be made for a more stylised tournament fighting. Like that German fencing where one wears eye protectors and one slashes from a static postion. I have seen pic of Zande? and I think Luc has a picture on his web site of a fellow with a sickle sword and shield. The chap in picture really does look like he is catching his breath before reengaging in the activity. I am sure I have seen the same picture else where or a different one but telling the same story. These swords are so very limited in function but also beautiful, I feel they must be for some sort of tournament. Also I have never encountered one that has been sharp or ever having any signs of being sharpened.

fernando · 31st October 2007, 09:19 PM

Maybe not so operational, same as some other ( African ) "weaponry", but they are beautyfull.
I like the little "axe head" near the forte.
Fernando

Matt Splatt · 1st November 2007, 09:15 AM

Hi Tim, you have some really beautiful swords there. I love these mambeli. I have always been unsatisfied by the idea that they were used to pull aside an opponents shield. I have a couple that feel like real battle weapons but they are far more simple than yours. I believe these are Boa but please correct me if I am wrong. These are both very sharp.
Could these have been used to trap a spear shaft against your shield, then pushing the shield forward use the mambeli as a fulcrum to bend the spearhead or break the shaft? Anyway it's just a thought.

Freddy · 1st November 2007, 02:15 PM

Nice swords, Tim.

I simply think that the form of these swords was used to hit an opponent protecting himself with a shield. You can 'go round' a shield with such a sword, much in the same way the Ethiopian 'shotel' was used.

Tim Simmons · 1st November 2007, 05:24 PM

One could make a hammer action with these blades. The blades strength seems only fit for that kind of movement either overhead or to the side. A hammer action blow to the skull would be seriously unpleasant the same action else where would also be quite nasty perhaps not deadly. It is possible that combat was indeed carried out to formal rules. It would not be the first instance in history.

Flavio · 1st November 2007, 06:37 PM

Congrats Tim!!! Very very nice!

31st October 2007, 08:28 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,776	sucker for African sickles or African sickles for a sucker? Two new bits. I had to be a little creative with the handle on one. It was all unravelled, the copper just needed putting back in place with very minor adjustment. The twisted steel was more damaged but with the help of a special home made gunge technique i now think it looks quite presentable. No matter how hard I try I just cannot see these as real war swords. There are so many more truly offencive sickle weapons. I am going to suggest that apart from the brass or copper versions which are clearly status or parade objects. That these may be made for a more stylised tournament fighting. Like that German fencing where one wears eye protectors and one slashes from a static postion. I have seen pic of Zande? and I think Luc has a picture on his web site of a fellow with a sickle sword and shield. The chap in picture really does look like he is catching his breath before reengaging in the activity. I am sure I have seen the same picture else where or a different one but telling the same story. These swords are so very limited in function but also beautiful, I feel they must be for some sort of tournament. Also I have never encountered one that has been sharp or ever having any signs of being sharpened. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 31st October 2007 at 08:51 PM. Reason: spelling

31st October 2007, 09:19 PM	#2
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Maybe not so operational, same as some other ( African ) "weaponry", but they are beautyfull. I like the little "axe head" near the forte. Fernando Last edited by fernando; 31st October 2007 at 10:13 PM.

1st November 2007, 09:15 AM	#3
Matt Splatt Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 31	Hi Tim, you have some really beautiful swords there. I love these mambeli. I have always been unsatisfied by the idea that they were used to pull aside an opponents shield. I have a couple that feel like real battle weapons but they are far more simple than yours. I believe these are Boa but please correct me if I am wrong. These are both very sharp. Could these have been used to trap a spear shaft against your shield, then pushing the shield forward use the mambeli as a fulcrum to bend the spearhead or break the shaft? Anyway it's just a thought. Attached Images Last edited by Matt Splatt; 1st November 2007 at 09:33 AM.

1st November 2007, 02:15 PM	#4
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nice swords, Tim. I simply think that the form of these swords was used to hit an opponent protecting himself with a shield. You can 'go round' a shield with such a sword, much in the same way the Ethiopian 'shotel' was used.

1st November 2007, 05:24 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,776	One could make a hammer action with these blades. The blades strength seems only fit for that kind of movement either overhead or to the side. A hammer action blow to the skull would be seriously unpleasant the same action else where would also be quite nasty perhaps not deadly. It is possible that combat was indeed carried out to formal rules. It would not be the first instance in history.

1st November 2007, 06:37 PM	#6
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Congrats Tim!!! Very very nice!