What did I buy last night? More comets?

[trenchwarfare]

Did a random search last night, and found this. Price looked ok, even with the damage to the guard. I am a student of most edged weapons, but don't recall one, exactly like this. Although, African blades are way out of my area. (If African) The wood handle intriques me. Were there other material inserts, on either side of the wood "langets"? Also, are those two images, comets, or meteors, on the ricasso area of the blade. :shrug: M.P. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140334645893&ssPageName=ADME:L:COSI:US:1123

[Lew]

It's a Fang sword. You will need to fix the bend in the tip.

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

Nice design on the blade of this classic Fang sword called FA.
See some exemples

[asomotif]

Pictures of the auction for later reference

[trenchwarfare]

Thanks for all the info guys. Saved me from going page by page, in "A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and use of Arms and Armor In All Countries and in All Times" And, it's NOT in there! :eek: Fist weapon I've run across, that's not in the book. So far. Now, value, did I do OK? I'm really ignernt when it comes to African blades.

[Emanuel]

Hi there,

I think you did very well for the price. I was going to bid on it but I forgot to set up my snipe and missed the end of the auction.

Check out Luc's site: http://lulef.free.fr/html/body_armes_africaines.html a fantastic resource for African arms.

How thick is the blade, incidentally? The designs and complex fullers on African blades are very appealing, but it's hard to get a sense of thickness from pictures.

Emanuel

[trenchwarfare]

Emanuel, will find out soon. Was shipped today.

[trenchwarfare]

Sword arrived today. Blade is not very thick, about 3/16" overall. Thicker in the "ricasso" area. I don't know these swords, but the tip is bent laterally, as if were forged that way? Could be bent, but doesn't look like it. The missing piece of wood, on the guard, has been missing for a long time.