An Old Masai Seme....I'm not so certain

colin henshaw · 25th September 2008, 08:12 PM

Hi David

This type of sword was used by very many tribes and tribal groupings throughout Eastern Africa - very difficult to place exactly without some provenance or collection data. Chris Peers' book "Armies of the Nineteenth Century: Africa", has some good drawings... Looks an old piece to me, but the wire wrapped bit to the handle doesn't seem right, I suspect there was a wooden finial to the handle there originally that had become damaged, and the wire is a later replacement covering.

Regret I cannot be more specific. Regards, Colin

25th September 2008, 08:12 PM	#6
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Hi David This type of sword was used by very many tribes and tribal groupings throughout Eastern Africa - very difficult to place exactly without some provenance or collection data. Chris Peers' book "Armies of the Nineteenth Century: Africa", has some good drawings... Looks an old piece to me, but the wire wrapped bit to the handle doesn't seem right, I suspect there was a wooden finial to the handle there originally that had become damaged, and the wire is a later replacement covering. Regret I cannot be more specific. Regards, Colin