OLD NGALA SWORD FOR COMMENT

[Lew]

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]

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!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: Tim

[Freddy]

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.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1691.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1694.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1692.jpg


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]

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

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

Luc

[Flavio]

THIS IS MINE :)

[Tim Simmons]

Just came up at the right time. Very sharp indeed, had to be careful cleaning it. I think this one is quite early.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/ng002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/ng003.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/ng.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/ng004.jpg

[Congoblades]

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. :eek: 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]

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]

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