Two similar Congo swords to identify

[Pieje]

Hello,

I'm new on this forum as I recently obtained parts of an old collection with several swords from Congo. I managed to identify several by using relevant literature. If you guys are interested, I'll try to post some of them in the near future.
I couldn't find any info about these two swords...they are very identical.

Thanks!

[Lew]

Interesting piece. It seems to have a Boa style blade with a Saka hilt?

[Freddy]

Hi and welcome to this forum.

I once had a similar piece in my collection. I identified it as : Lokele, So, Topoke.

I still has some pics of this piece. It was a spearpoint made into a sword.

[Freddy]

In the book 'Seltene Afrikanische Waffen' (Rare African Short Weapons) by Manfred A. Zirngibl (1983), 2 similar pieces are shown on page 40.

[Pieje]

In the book 'Seltene Afrikanische Waffen' (Rare African Short Weapons) by Manfred A. Zirngibl (1983), 2 similar pieces are shown on page 40.
I checked this reference: the braided cord covering of the hilt ("typical of the Ngbandi") is identical to the one on figure 36 ("Lokele"). Also the engravings on the blade, especially at the beginning, correspond almost perfectly ("Zande region").
Both these swords look very old to me.
Thanks!

[Pieje]

Another of my Congo swords, Poto type I guess.
Not in very good shape, but nice though.

[Freddy]

Nothing wrong with this Poto, in my opinion. Good engravings and fetish bundle (the hair has perhaps gone, but I have the same problem :shrug: :p )

Perhaps I bit of cleaning would help.