Bone Grip Mahdist short sword:

kronckew · 7th August 2018, 05:28 PM

Just received this short sword, blade 22.5 in. tip to guard in a straight line, about 2.2 in. wide at the base, 2mm thick at the guard. weighs around a pound ex-scabbard. The grip is bone, guard and pommel cap is horn. peened tang. The scabbard is thin leather covered in crocodile skin. peened tang. Islamic etchings both sides near the grip, changing to a pattern of three snakes with tails near the tip.

I am assuming it is from the Sudan area & possibly Mahdist rather than Indian as the previous owner assumed...

Anyone care to comment? or have a similar one, etc? Thanks for any further info, in advance... (I have the dagger version, straight blade, bine grip in same style, sans scabbard or curved partners.

thinreadline · 7th August 2018, 07:31 PM

I would say the croc scabbard indicates Sudan rather than India

kronckew · 7th August 2018, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinreadline

I would say the croc scabbard indicates Sudan rather than India

You are the second to confirm my assumptions.

TVV · 7th August 2018, 08:19 PM

It is Sudanese, and the etched blade shows the considerable influence Persian arms from the late 19th century had in Sudan.

Helleri · 8th August 2018, 07:57 AM

Scabbard cover material definitely looks right for young crocodile. Weirdly wrapped though. Hard to tell if it's a lower under belly and upper tail or half belly and side cut. Is it continuous (is the dark bit toward the tip a separate piece or tissue connected to the rest)?

kronckew · 8th August 2018, 08:31 AM

The dark bit at the tip is a separate 'chape' piece over the end. a bit thicker & less smooth than the rest on one side. The sewn seam is on the side, inside the curve, (along the spine). No seam on the edge side, so the main bit was all one piece. The croc skin is on both sides. That lighter main part could well be 'belly skin'. The chape part has what appears to be a ridge like I'd expect over a spine near one sewn edge. Skin is very dry, bit shrunken. Looks like it was put on wet as a tube & slid over the inner leather bit.

Any Ideas on what could be used to treat it to prevent cracking? the blade tip pokes out the end, close to a centimeter, so the chape bit could use a chape.

7th August 2018, 05:28 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,185	Bone Grip Mahdist short sword: Just received this short sword, blade 22.5 in. tip to guard in a straight line, about 2.2 in. wide at the base, 2mm thick at the guard. weighs around a pound ex-scabbard. The grip is bone, guard and pommel cap is horn. peened tang. The scabbard is thin leather covered in crocodile skin. peened tang. Islamic etchings both sides near the grip, changing to a pattern of three snakes with tails near the tip. I am assuming it is from the Sudan area & possibly Mahdist rather than Indian as the previous owner assumed... Anyone care to comment? or have a similar one, etc? Thanks for any further info, in advance... (I have the dagger version, straight blade, bine grip in same style, sans scabbard or curved partners. Attached Images

8th August 2018, 08:31 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,185	The dark bit at the tip is a separate 'chape' piece over the end. a bit thicker & less smooth than the rest on one side. The sewn seam is on the side, inside the curve, (along the spine). No seam on the edge side, so the main bit was all one piece. The croc skin is on both sides. That lighter main part could well be 'belly skin'. The chape part has what appears to be a ridge like I'd expect over a spine near one sewn edge. Skin is very dry, bit shrunken. Looks like it was put on wet as a tube & slid over the inner leather bit. Any Ideas on what could be used to treat it to prevent cracking? the blade tip pokes out the end, close to a centimeter, so the chape bit could use a chape. Last edited by kronckew; 8th August 2018 at 08:46 AM.

7th August 2018, 07:31 PM	#2
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	I would say the croc scabbard indicates Sudan rather than India

7th August 2018, 08:19 PM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,625	It is Sudanese, and the etched blade shows the considerable influence Persian arms from the late 19th century had in Sudan.

8th August 2018, 07:57 AM	#5
Helleri Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Chino, CA. Posts: 219	Scabbard cover material definitely looks right for young crocodile. Weirdly wrapped though. Hard to tell if it's a lower under belly and upper tail or half belly and side cut. Is it continuous (is the dark bit toward the tip a separate piece or tissue connected to the rest)?