Can I get some help with this African knife

Freddy · 9th July 2007, 06:45 PM

I got this knife last week. At first, I was inclined to think it was Shona, but upon examining it a bit closer, I really don't know.

The handle is made of wood with a great patina (I don't know if this shows on the pics). One side of the handle is decorated. The other side is plain.

The blade is double edged and extremely sharp over its entire length. It's a forged blade, not one cut out of a piece of metal. The middle of the blade is about 4 mm thick.

Total length : 33 cm. Length of blade : 21,5 cm. Width of blade at the base : 3,3 cm.

Is there anyone who perhaps can give me a clue ?

Lew · 9th July 2007, 07:15 PM

I vote for Shona. Too bad there is no scabbard it may have helped more with the identication.

Lew

Tim Simmons · 9th July 2007, 07:23 PM

I can see how one might think of Shona. I personally think it is from the Congo. I cannot recall seeing a Shona knife or short sword with that waist to the blade or for want of a better term the exposed tang being part of the blade, but I have several and have seen many Congo knives like this.

Freddy · 9th July 2007, 07:52 PM

I tend to agree with Tim. This knife 'looks' more like a Congolese dagger. But I have no idea of its origin (tribe).

I have a small Shona dagger in my collection. The construction of this knife is quite different. The blade sits much deeper into the handle.
The blade of the mystery dagger is firmly fixed and never 'sat' deeper into the handle.

On the other hand, the handle of this small Shona knife also has carvings on one side only.

Here are some other pics.

Lew · 9th July 2007, 09:31 PM

Well what ever tribe it came from it's still nice. There was a bit of trade between the tribes of the congo and even the northern part of South Africa it is hard to pin this one down.

Lew

Freddy · 10th July 2007, 01:16 PM

I've been asking around to know the origin of this knife. Someone suggested that it's probably from one of the following tribes : Tshokwe, Lunda or Luena. All live near the Congolese/Angolan border.

9th July 2007, 06:45 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Can I get some help with this African knife I got this knife last week. At first, I was inclined to think it was Shona, but upon examining it a bit closer, I really don't know. The handle is made of wood with a great patina (I don't know if this shows on the pics). One side of the handle is decorated. The other side is plain. The blade is double edged and extremely sharp over its entire length. It's a forged blade, not one cut out of a piece of metal. The middle of the blade is about 4 mm thick. Total length : 33 cm. Length of blade : 21,5 cm. Width of blade at the base : 3,3 cm. Is there anyone who perhaps can give me a clue ?

9th July 2007, 07:15 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I vote for Shona. Too bad there is no scabbard it may have helped more with the identication. Lew

9th July 2007, 07:23 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,783	I can see how one might think of Shona. I personally think it is from the Congo. I cannot recall seeing a Shona knife or short sword with that waist to the blade or for want of a better term the exposed tang being part of the blade, but I have several and have seen many Congo knives like this.

9th July 2007, 07:52 PM	#4
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I tend to agree with Tim. This knife 'looks' more like a Congolese dagger. But I have no idea of its origin (tribe). I have a small Shona dagger in my collection. The construction of this knife is quite different. The blade sits much deeper into the handle. The blade of the mystery dagger is firmly fixed and never 'sat' deeper into the handle. On the other hand, the handle of this small Shona knife also has carvings on one side only. Here are some other pics.

9th July 2007, 09:31 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Well what ever tribe it came from it's still nice. There was a bit of trade between the tribes of the congo and even the northern part of South Africa it is hard to pin this one down. Lew

10th July 2007, 01:16 PM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I've been asking around to know the origin of this knife. Someone suggested that it's probably from one of the following tribes : Tshokwe, Lunda or Luena. All live near the Congolese/Angolan border.