Sickle for comment - tool or weapon?

[Sajen]

And here the one fom panga na visu in comparison with your example.

[Philip]

I don't see why this thing couldn't serve equally well as a farm tool or a weapon. I'm thinking of its Okinawan equivalent, with has a martial technique developed for it (used singly or in each hand) practiced to this day. Ditto for the grub hoe, also used for fighting in that culture and in the Philippines.

[shayde78]

Brilliant work, Sajen!
Two comments, though:
- there is no wire wrap (not that it matters as I agree it appears to match the African type you found)
- I can't find other examples of "alala" when I search online. Is there another name that may apply?

Thanks much for the impressive detective work!

[Sajen]

Hello Shayde,

you are welcome.

I don't write wire wrap, I speak from metal wrap, or I am wrong what I see on these two pictures?
BTW, the way how the tang is peened is as well typical Central African!

Regards,
Detlef

[shayde78]

Those wraps are actually more rattan (vs metal), although much more simply wrapped than the sections of rattan on the blade. Easy to confuse given the poor quality of my camera!

[Rick]

Originally Posted by shayde78

Those wraps are actually more rattan (vs metal), although much more simply wrapped than the sections of rattan on the blade. Easy to confuse given the poor quality of my camera!

Beg to disagree, that's flat copper wound around above the rattan. That stuff was a common trade item in Africa back in the day.

[shayde78]

Originally Posted by Rick

Beg to disagree, that's flat copper wound around above the rattan. That stuff was a common trade item in Africa back in the day.

Ha! My eyes are evidently worse than my camera! Shawn and Rick, you are correct. Those are thin, flat strips of copper. When I realized this last night, I was wondering if this copper would ever be pulled off and used as currency? This would turn the hilt into a wallet or purse, of sorts.

[shayde78]

Originally Posted by Philip

I don't see why this thing couldn't serve equally well as a farm tool or a weapon. I'm thinking of its Okinawan equivalent, with has a martial technique developed for it (used singly or in each hand) practiced to this day. Ditto for the grub hoe, also used for fighting in that culture and in the Philippines.

Yep - I agree, in general. Although, the example featured in this thread seems heavier and more stout than what would make sense for a strictly agricultural tool. It would be tiring to swing this for 8-10 hours a day. However, perhaps it made a lot of sense to have your tool able to serve as a functional weapon. You don't always get to choose when you're attacked, and the weapon at hand is more useful than the one you left at home.