African sword - Salampasu variation?

Bill M · 11th July 2008, 11:07 PM

Or something else?

Massive, heavy, well-forged blade --- 3" wide and 19" long. Sword is 24" overall length in sheath.

Lew · 12th July 2008, 12:21 AM

Bill

Nice one! The blade has a Fang look to it? Could be a melding of two tribes sword?

Lew

asomotif · 12th July 2008, 01:44 AM

Very nice piece.
Maybe Freddy can comment on this one ?

Ps. It wasn't POR I hope

Bill M · 12th July 2008, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Very nice piece.
Maybe Freddy can comment on this one ?

Ps. It wasn't POR I hope

Thank you, Willem!

Price was listed and paid without bickering.

I have a good, well-provenanced Batak sword from Willem that I will post soon.

But for now, I am interested in comments on this piece. I think that Lew may have something in a melding of two cultures. There does seem to be a Fang influence.

Lew · 12th July 2008, 07:46 AM

For comparison

Tim Simmons · 12th July 2008, 02:19 PM

Very nice. Bill has some super things.

No need to doubt the effectiveness of this weapon.

Luc LEFEBVRE · 12th July 2008, 03:43 PM

Nothing to see with the Fang, just Salampasu, if you'r searching for influences see Luba, Songye, Kete (north).
It's a nice and unusual piece.
Luc

Bill M · 12th July 2008, 04:53 PM

Thank you Lew, Luc and Tim.

Freddy · 12th July 2008, 05:45 PM

Very nice, Bill.

It's a Salampasu sword, that's sure. My guess is, that they probably used a good blade from another tribe. Like Luc said, the problem is to find which one.

I like these variations. Salampasu swords aren't rare, that's for sure. But the one you have.... Just try to find a second one. I don't think it would be easy.

Look at the following picture : both Salampasu, no ?

I'll show the rest tomorrow. Have to go to work.

Freddy · 13th July 2008, 01:52 PM

Here are the rest of my pics.

This piece has, I believe, a hilt with Kuba-influence. The top of the hilt ressembles the hilt of a Kuba-sword called 'Ilwoon' or 'Ilonda'.

Why was this blade altered or why did it receive a different hilt ? It fits into an ordinary Salampasu sheath. is it a Kuba sword with a Salampasu blade or a Salampasu blade wiht a Kuba-style hilt. Who knows ?

Interesting, no ?

Tim Simmons · 13th July 2008, 03:41 PM

Always something new coming out of Africa.

Freddy · 13th July 2008, 07:29 PM

Yes, Tim. That's what I like about African weapons. One never gets bored.

Bill M · 14th July 2008, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Always something new coming out of Africa.

------------------------Pliny the Elder (A.D.23-79).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

Yes, Tim. That's what I like about African weapons. One never gets bored.

Great art is never boring. You always see something new.

Flavio · 10th August 2008, 12:14 AM

Wonderful sword Bill, congratulations!!!

I don't think it's salampasu even if the scabbard is very similar to the salampasu ones... on the book "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika" there is a sword identical and is attributed to the Pendi or Bagandi tribe... Tomorrow I will post a picture of the book.

Flavio

Flavio · 10th August 2008, 12:22 PM

Here are the pictures from the book. Bill's sword with the one on "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika".

Luc LEFEBVRE · 10th August 2008, 12:51 PM

Well find Flavio.I have not find PENDI, but PINDI a small group at the west of the MBUUM, and to the north of the West PENDE group.Same linguistic group of the PENDE (Bantu).
Here a Pindi sword from the Poppe collection.
And a HUNGANA and PENDE sword to search influences ??
Luc

Bill M · 10th August 2008, 01:23 PM

Thank you Flavio and Luc. I did not see Flavio's post earlier than today. Almost looks like a picture of my same sword! The dealer I bought mine from thought it was 19th c.

Flavio · 10th August 2008, 07:44 PM

Happy to be of some help

11th July 2008, 11:07 PM	#1
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	African sword - Salampasu variation? Or something else? Massive, heavy, well-forged blade --- 3" wide and 19" long. Sword is 24" overall length in sheath. Attached Images

12th July 2008, 01:44 AM	#3
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Freddy ? Very nice piece. Maybe Freddy can comment on this one ? Ps. It wasn't POR I hope

12th July 2008, 07:46 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	For comparison Attached Images Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 12th July 2008 at 02:24 PM.

12th July 2008, 05:45 PM	#9
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	nice Very nice, Bill. It's a Salampasu sword, that's sure. My guess is, that they probably used a good blade from another tribe. Like Luc said, the problem is to find which one. I like these variations. Salampasu swords aren't rare, that's for sure. But the one you have.... Just try to find a second one. I don't think it would be easy. Look at the following picture : both Salampasu, no ? I'll show the rest tomorrow. Have to go to work.

10th August 2008, 12:22 PM	#15
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Here are the pictures from the book. Bill's sword with the one on "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika". Attached Images

12th July 2008, 12:21 AM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Bill Nice one! The blade has a Fang look to it? Could be a melding of two tribes sword? Lew

12th July 2008, 02:19 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,808	Very nice. Bill has some super things. No need to doubt the effectiveness of this weapon.

12th July 2008, 03:43 PM	#7
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Nothing to see with the Fang, just Salampasu, if you'r searching for influences see Luba, Songye, Kete (north). It's a nice and unusual piece. Luc

12th July 2008, 04:53 PM	#8
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Thank you Lew, Luc and Tim.

13th July 2008, 01:52 PM	#10
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Here are the rest of my pics. This piece has, I believe, a hilt with Kuba-influence. The top of the hilt ressembles the hilt of a Kuba-sword called 'Ilwoon' or 'Ilonda'. Why was this blade altered or why did it receive a different hilt ? It fits into an ordinary Salampasu sheath. is it a Kuba sword with a Salampasu blade or a Salampasu blade wiht a Kuba-style hilt. Who knows ? Interesting, no ?

13th July 2008, 03:41 PM	#11
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,808	Always something new coming out of Africa.

13th July 2008, 07:29 PM	#12
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Yes, Tim. That's what I like about African weapons. One never gets bored.

10th August 2008, 12:14 AM	#14
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Wonderful sword Bill, congratulations!!! I don't think it's salampasu even if the scabbard is very similar to the salampasu ones... on the book "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika" there is a sword identical and is attributed to the Pendi or Bagandi tribe... Tomorrow I will post a picture of the book. Flavio

10th August 2008, 12:51 PM	#16
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Well find Flavio.I have not find PENDI, but PINDI a small group at the west of the MBUUM, and to the north of the West PENDE group.Same linguistic group of the PENDE (Bantu). Here a Pindi sword from the Poppe collection. And a HUNGANA and PENDE sword to search influences ?? Luc Attached Images

10th August 2008, 01:23 PM	#17
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Thank you Flavio and Luc. I did not see Flavio's post earlier than today. Almost looks like a picture of my same sword! The dealer I bought mine from thought it was 19th c.

10th August 2008, 07:44 PM	#18
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Happy to be of some help