A Massive and All Business Old Manding Sword

Iain · 21st November 2017, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVV

Loverly sword, but am I the only one to whom the hilt looks similar to those on Toma swords?

Teodor

The Toma are within the group of Mande peoples. I agree the hilt seems to be the same as examples of Toma swords. I've seen a Toma sword in Wolf's collection which has a takouba blade. So I think its quite possible this sword is from Liberia or there abouts.

werecow · 23rd December 2023, 12:22 AM

I've just acquired one of these with what seems like a (French?) cutlass blade (69 cm, 85 total including the grip; 3.5 cm wide at the base), so currently looking into them and thought I'd add my data point to an existing thread.

They are quite different from the typical Manding swords with the bolbous scabbards (although there is that common pommel "button") but as noted above seem to have a lot in common with the earlier Mende swords from Sierra Leone (particularly the "rondel" elements; see last pic, also here). Since this is an old thread, can anyone comment some more on known connections and the differences between regions maybe?

Rest of the pictures attached are the seller's pics.

Also any ideas about age are welcome. I suspect the blade is 19th c and as such probably older than the hilt but that is about the limit of my knowledge on these.

23rd December 2023, 12:22 AM	#2
werecow Member Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Leiden, NL Posts: 565	I've just acquired one of these with what seems like a (French?) cutlass blade (69 cm, 85 total including the grip; 3.5 cm wide at the base), so currently looking into them and thought I'd add my data point to an existing thread. They are quite different from the typical Manding swords with the bolbous scabbards (although there is that common pommel "button") but as noted above seem to have a lot in common with the earlier Mende swords from Sierra Leone (particularly the "rondel" elements; see last pic, also here). Since this is an old thread, can anyone comment some more on known connections and the differences between regions maybe? Rest of the pictures attached are the seller's pics. Also any ideas about age are welcome. I suspect the blade is 19th c and as such probably older than the hilt but that is about the limit of my knowledge on these. Attached Images Last edited by werecow; 23rd December 2023 at 12:49 AM.