Unusual African knife or short sword

colin henshaw · 29th December 2020, 11:19 AM

Helpful input from Tim, Wayne and Ian, thanks. The suggestion of the hilt scales being made of "gutta-percha" is interesting and may well be correct.

The reasons for my thinking this knife is from the Cameroon Grasslands are ... there is an example in the "Panga na Visu" book where the sheath has a similar style of belt loop, in addition the African tribes in that area seemed to favour knives/swords with blade points either squared or rounded off. Note: I have not attached extracts from the book because of copyright.

I am also posting this item on the European section of the forum to see what response it brings.

mariusgmioc · 29th December 2020, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

I am also posting this item on the European section of the forum to see what response it brings.

Exactly!

To me, only the sheath looks African while the knife looks European all the way.

kronckew · 29th December 2020, 03:14 PM

Colin, Marius: the Blade may have been repointed, possibly after the tip was damaged or broken, and the scabbard of course may have been made for it after that. I, too, think the knife looks more like a European chef's knife.

colin henshaw · 29th December 2020, 04:24 PM

To me, only the sheath looks African while the knife looks European all the way.

Certainly, of course the actual knife part was made in Europe (or US ?)

29th December 2020, 11:19 AM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Helpful input from Tim, Wayne and Ian, thanks. The suggestion of the hilt scales being made of "gutta-percha" is interesting and may well be correct. The reasons for my thinking this knife is from the Cameroon Grasslands are ... there is an example in the "Panga na Visu" book where the sheath has a similar style of belt loop, in addition the African tribes in that area seemed to favour knives/swords with blade points either squared or rounded off. Note: I have not attached extracts from the book because of copyright. I am also posting this item on the European section of the forum to see what response it brings. Last edited by colin henshaw; 29th December 2020 at 12:15 PM.

29th December 2020, 03:14 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	Colin, Marius: the Blade may have been repointed, possibly after the tip was damaged or broken, and the scabbard of course may have been made for it after that. I, too, think the knife looks more like a European chef's knife.

29th December 2020, 04:24 PM	#4
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	To me, only the sheath looks African while the knife looks European all the way. Certainly, of course the actual knife part was made in Europe (or US ?)