African Short Sword identity

RobertGuy · 4th July 2018, 06:45 PM

What can forum members tell me about this recent purchase?

Catalogue description:
Late 19th Century African knife. 16 ½ inch double edged blade with leaf engraving. Leather wrapped crossguard. Lizard skin grip. Chiseled steel spike pommel. Contained in its leather and lizard skin scabbard wth leather belt loop.

My stats:
Weight: 14.1oz (0.4kg), 1lb 2.3 oz (0.52kg) including scabbard.
Length overall: 23'' (58.5cm) Blade: 16.5'' (42cm)
Blade width: 1.27'' (32.5mm) parallel sided blade, narrows sharply to a point starting 3’’ (7.6cm) from tip.
Distal taper 0.21'' (5.4mm) at ricasso, 0.19'' (4.8mm) at mid blade,. 0.19'' (4.8mm) 2 inches from tip.

The knife(short sword) and scabbard are in excellent condition which makes me suspect a later date than 19th century. However, it seems to be a very good quality piece, with nice pin etching on the blade. The sharp edges are in fact hollow ground and the whole thing seems nicely constructed and finished.
So, high end tourist piece?, old sleeper?. Madingo/mandinka? All comments and suggestion welcome as ever.

mariusgmioc · 4th July 2018, 07:22 PM

Sudanese arm dagger?!

Sajen · 4th July 2018, 07:36 PM

It's a Tebu dagger/short sword, very nice worked!

My age guess would be around middle 20th century.

Regards,
Detlef

Tim Simmons · 5th July 2018, 08:16 AM

Very nice.

CharlesS · 5th July 2018, 12:35 PM

Very nice Tebu work, but IMHO I'm inclined to think a little later then Sajen suggested.

4th July 2018, 06:45 PM	#1
RobertGuy Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 135	African Short Sword identity What can forum members tell me about this recent purchase? Catalogue description: Late 19th Century African knife. 16 ½ inch double edged blade with leaf engraving. Leather wrapped crossguard. Lizard skin grip. Chiseled steel spike pommel. Contained in its leather and lizard skin scabbard wth leather belt loop. My stats: Weight: 14.1oz (0.4kg), 1lb 2.3 oz (0.52kg) including scabbard. Length overall: 23'' (58.5cm) Blade: 16.5'' (42cm) Blade width: 1.27'' (32.5mm) parallel sided blade, narrows sharply to a point starting 3’’ (7.6cm) from tip. Distal taper 0.21'' (5.4mm) at ricasso, 0.19'' (4.8mm) at mid blade,. 0.19'' (4.8mm) 2 inches from tip. The knife(short sword) and scabbard are in excellent condition which makes me suspect a later date than 19th century. However, it seems to be a very good quality piece, with nice pin etching on the blade. The sharp edges are in fact hollow ground and the whole thing seems nicely constructed and finished. So, high end tourist piece?, old sleeper?. Madingo/mandinka? All comments and suggestion welcome as ever. Attached Images

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4th July 2018, 07:22 PM	#2
mariusgmioc Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Austria Posts: 1,903	Sudanese arm dagger?!

4th July 2018, 07:36 PM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	It's a Tebu dagger/short sword, very nice worked! My age guess would be around middle 20th century. Regards, Detlef

5th July 2018, 08:16 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Very nice.

5th July 2018, 12:35 PM	#5
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,857	Very nice Tebu work, but IMHO I'm inclined to think a little later then Sajen suggested.