OLD NGALA SWORD FOR COMMENT

Lew · 24th February 2006, 03:54 PM

Hi Guys

This arrived a few days ago. I was able to clean off some of the surface rust. It seems to be in decent shape iron binding and the hilt has no cracks in it. Let me know what you think. Total length is 27" with a 21" blade.

Lew

Tim Simmons · 24th February 2006, 06:49 PM

Looks great. From the picture it is a little difficult to see if it has or has had a sharp edge. I have not got one of these, I need one!!!!

Tim

Freddy · 24th February 2006, 06:57 PM

Hi Lew,

Nice piece. I got mine last week. Total length 27,2" (68 cm), length of blade 20,4" (51 cm). The handle has iron binding and also some copper binding.

These 'executioner's swords' all look alike, but perhaps by comparing the pictures of both swords, we can notice some differences. I think mine has a more slender blade.

There's a huge variation of this type of sword. A very good (and complete) book is :

EXECUTION KNIVES & DERIVATIVES (Tribal Arms Monographs Vol 1/N°2)
by Christian Gosseau
Published by Tribal Arts/Brussels in 1997

I checked the book and the author says that our swords were used by the following tribes : Ngombe, Doko, Western Mongo.
Indigenous names : Ngulu, Ngolo, Ngwolo, M'Bolo, Gulu, Ntsaka
He also writes that the function of these swords changed from weapon to parade and dance knife.

Luc LEFEBVRE · 25th February 2006, 12:05 AM

Good execution knife before 1940, called NGULU.
Ngombe, Doko, Mongo.

http://lulef.free.fr/html/doko.html

Luc

Flavio · 25th February 2006, 06:17 PM

THIS IS MINE

Tim Simmons · 15th December 2006, 02:55 PM

Just came up at the right time. Very sharp indeed, had to be careful cleaning it. I think this one is quite early.

Congoblades · 15th December 2006, 06:37 PM

Nice swords, these are one of my favorites, I started with two of those collecting african weapons.
These are mine, the 2 first ones are both signed by the "artist"

the second is also signed with a date, 1955. The tirth one is the oldest (late 19th century), see the size of the handle. I want some more of these, one with the copper nails like Tim's example and ofcourse a double one like Luc's one.

but with a small budget like mine it could thake a while

extract from EXECUTION KNIVES & DERIVATIVES (Tribal Arms Monographs Vol 1/N°2)
"It is notworthy that in early examples, dating before the twentieth century, the three spherical bulges on the handle below the grip were often smaller than in later knives..."

Tim Simmons · 15th December 2006, 08:09 PM

My example has a well tempered thin springy blade rather similar to the last part of a cavalry saber so it would be possible to use as so often called, an execution sword. So there must be truth in the old travellers tales and journal illustrations that this practise did happen.

carlos · 15th December 2006, 09:15 PM

BEATIFUL SWORDS!!!! CONGRATULATIONS , IS A GREAT ADQUISITION!! I HAVE ANOTHER LIKE THIS.
CARLOS

24th February 2006, 03:54 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	OLD NGALA SWORD FOR COMMENT Hi Guys This arrived a few days ago. I was able to clean off some of the surface rust. It seems to be in decent shape iron binding and the hilt has no cracks in it. Let me know what you think. Total length is 27" with a 21" blade. Lew Attached Images

24th February 2006, 06:57 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nice Hi Lew, Nice piece. I got mine last week. Total length 27,2" (68 cm), length of blade 20,4" (51 cm). The handle has iron binding and also some copper binding. These 'executioner's swords' all look alike, but perhaps by comparing the pictures of both swords, we can notice some differences. I think mine has a more slender blade. There's a huge variation of this type of sword. A very good (and complete) book is : EXECUTION KNIVES & DERIVATIVES (Tribal Arms Monographs Vol 1/N°2) by Christian Gosseau Published by Tribal Arts/Brussels in 1997 I checked the book and the author says that our swords were used by the following tribes : Ngombe, Doko, Western Mongo. Indigenous names : Ngulu, Ngolo, Ngwolo, M'Bolo, Gulu, Ntsaka He also writes that the function of these swords changed from weapon to parade and dance knife.

25th February 2006, 12:05 AM	#4
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 472	NGULU Good execution knife before 1940, called NGULU. Ngombe, Doko, Mongo. http://lulef.free.fr/html/doko.html Luc

25th February 2006, 06:17 PM	#5
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	THIS IS MINE Attached Images

15th December 2006, 02:55 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	New for Christmas decorations Just came up at the right time. Very sharp indeed, had to be careful cleaning it. I think this one is quite early.

24th February 2006, 06:49 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Looks great. From the picture it is a little difficult to see if it has or has had a sharp edge. I have not got one of these, I need one!!!! Tim

15th December 2006, 06:37 PM	#7
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	Nice swords, these are one of my favorites, I started with two of those collecting african weapons. These are mine, the 2 first ones are both signed by the "artist" the second is also signed with a date, 1955. The tirth one is the oldest (late 19th century), see the size of the handle. I want some more of these, one with the copper nails like Tim's example and ofcourse a double one like Luc's one. but with a small budget like mine it could thake a while extract from EXECUTION KNIVES & DERIVATIVES (Tribal Arms Monographs Vol 1/N°2) "It is notworthy that in early examples, dating before the twentieth century, the three spherical bulges on the handle below the grip were often smaller than in later knives..." Attached Images

15th December 2006, 08:09 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	My example has a well tempered thin springy blade rather similar to the last part of a cavalry saber so it would be possible to use as so often called, an execution sword. So there must be truth in the old travellers tales and journal illustrations that this practise did happen.

15th December 2006, 09:15 PM	#9
carlos Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 737	ANOTHER NGALA BEATIFUL SWORDS!!!! CONGRATULATIONS , IS A GREAT ADQUISITION!! I HAVE ANOTHER LIKE THIS. CARLOS Attached Images