Short Sword For Identification

Jerseyman · 23rd December 2020, 12:35 PM

I'm working on the assumption that this is an African short sword. I've been through Spring and Tirri, Stone and every other reference I have, but haven't seen anything to quite match. Different elements seem to point to different areas; I waver between thinking it's from Cameroon, then further north, then further east.

The blade has lost its tip and been re-ground, but not recently, and perhaps within its working life.

The hilt is in the condition it came to me - over-cleaned. It's zoomorphic in design - perhaps a lion or a hippopotamus? It's been cast with the appearance of rattan bands around the grip. The tang is peened over, but inside it seems to have two brass sleeves, one riding over the other, and the outer one slides freely up and down - not sure if that's a design choice or flaw.

The scabbard has lost its tip (chape, if it had one) and has worn at the locket end, allowing us to see the construction clearly. The liner is thick card, red on one side, wrapped in a rough-weave blue linen (?). The colour of the fabric seems similar to that used by the Tuareg groups. Then a typical thin black leather covering, embossed with a fairly common line design. The cardboard reminds me of a Sudanese knife I have, of characteristic design, except that the sheath is made of a thick blue/grey card reminiscent of the card covers used for some British military manuals.

I would appreciate any insight the forum might have.

Measurements:

Sword length - 65cm
Blade length - 53.5cm
Blade width (base) - 2.3cm
Blade width (tip) - 1.4cm
Spine (base) - 0.3cm
Spine (tip) - 0.1cm
Hilt length - 11.5cm
Hilt (pommel) - 4.5cm x 3.5cm
Hilt (at blade) - 3.2cm x 2.2cm
Pommel opening - 2cm x 0.8cm
Scabbard length - 53cm

23rd December 2020, 12:35 PM	#1
Jerseyman Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 97	Short Sword For Identification I'm working on the assumption that this is an African short sword. I've been through Spring and Tirri, Stone and every other reference I have, but haven't seen anything to quite match. Different elements seem to point to different areas; I waver between thinking it's from Cameroon, then further north, then further east. The blade has lost its tip and been re-ground, but not recently, and perhaps within its working life. The hilt is in the condition it came to me - over-cleaned. It's zoomorphic in design - perhaps a lion or a hippopotamus? It's been cast with the appearance of rattan bands around the grip. The tang is peened over, but inside it seems to have two brass sleeves, one riding over the other, and the outer one slides freely up and down - not sure if that's a design choice or flaw. The scabbard has lost its tip (chape, if it had one) and has worn at the locket end, allowing us to see the construction clearly. The liner is thick card, red on one side, wrapped in a rough-weave blue linen (?). The colour of the fabric seems similar to that used by the Tuareg groups. Then a typical thin black leather covering, embossed with a fairly common line design. The cardboard reminds me of a Sudanese knife I have, of characteristic design, except that the sheath is made of a thick blue/grey card reminiscent of the card covers used for some British military manuals. I would appreciate any insight the forum might have. Measurements: Sword length - 65cm Blade length - 53.5cm Blade width (base) - 2.3cm Blade width (tip) - 1.4cm Spine (base) - 0.3cm Spine (tip) - 0.1cm Hilt length - 11.5cm Hilt (pommel) - 4.5cm x 3.5cm Hilt (at blade) - 3.2cm x 2.2cm Pommel opening - 2cm x 0.8cm Scabbard length - 53cm Attached Images