Behold! a triumphant offering from ebay.

[Tim Simmons]

A glory to be seen after generous libations of good oily substances and a ritual exfoliation. The damage to the handle seems ubiquitous to many of these sabres, just have to live with that, 91cm from tip in a line to the handle. I have wanted one for some time but never could find one at the right price. Rejoice!

[katana]

Very nice Tim, unusually, I missed this one......perhaps eBay isn't so bad after all :cool:

[Flavio]

Very nice mongelima sword!! Congratulations :)

[Freddy]

Nice find, Tim.

To make it complete, you should add a leather strap. I have a similar sword with much the same decoration. Mine has a leather strap attached to the handle. It was probably made of an old leather army belt (perhaps from a gun).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1732.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1734.jpg

The handle is also a bit damaged. It has been decorated with some iron binding and copper wire. At the bottom, some rectangular strips of copper were applied to it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1737.jpg

As to origin, I would attribute this sword more to the Benge-,Boa-,Hanga-, Mba- and/or Angba-tribes living in Central/North Congo and the border area of the Central African Republic.
The name of this sword in Angba-Mba language is : Kondo

Check out this website : http://www.mambele.be/

This is not my collection, but I want it all :D

[Tim Simmons]

Thanks everyone I am more than happy with it. You really have to handle one to understand what an achievement these sabres are when you read of the smelting difficulties encountered by the people that produced weapons of this ilk.