Another African find.

[Freddy]

This one came from the same German auction site.

It's a sickle knife of the Baali-tribe (related to the Mangbetu), living in Congo.

The blade measures 30 cm. This piece came without a handle, so I tried to make one myself. I only have to stain it. What do you think ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2079.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2080.jpg

[Tim Simmons]

I would just leave it as it is. Stain it and French polish it like furniture if you have the elbow grease.

[Congoblades]

Hi Freddy, well done, what kind of wood did you use for the handle? looks very nice.

[Freddy]

I just took a piece of wood from my shed. Nothing special. Something you find in every do-it-yourself shop. It's easy to carve as it's relatively soft. I looked at the handle of a Mangbetu knife in my collection and tried to copy it.
It's not yet finished. I have still some sanding to do. But the sickle knife looks better with a handle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1786-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1787.jpg

[Flavio]

Seems pine or fir

[Tim Simmons]

You could work on it with shoe polish. It will never be like a polished tropical hard wood but I think you could get a good colour and some shine with black and brown shoe polish. Maybe rub it with an oil pastel first?

[VANDOO]

I would just leave it as it is. Stain it and French polish it like furniture if you have the elbow grease.

FRENCH POLISH IT :confused: DOES THAT MEAN YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR TONGUE TO POLISH IT WITH :p

SERIOUSLY WOOD WILL LOOK BETTER IF IT IS STAINED DARKER OR IT WOULD LOOK NICE IN WHITE IF IVORY WAS USED. NICE KNIFE AND INTERESTING SHAPE FOR THE HANDLE IS IT BASED ON A COMPLETE EXAMPLE?

[Tim Simmons]

Steady!!! French polishing is certainly better than the latin name. :o

[Rick]

Everybody out of the gutter !! :rolleyes: :D
Seriously though; possibly you should consider trying to smooth carve it ; did most of your average African wood workers even have sandpaper ??
Possibly going over it with a well sharpened block plane set fine would give a nice rustic finish .
I have used this approach on a larger scale on sawn Yellow Pine beams to make them appear hand hewn .

[Freddy]

This is what I used to carve the handle : an Opinel knife n° 8

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1788.jpg


As to the sandpaper, it's true that most African carvers wouldn't be able to obtain this. But I know they used something similar : coarse leaves of certain plants.

As an example for the one I'm trying to make, I used some handles of Mangbetu knives in my collection.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1789.jpg

[The Double D]

They probably scraped it smooth with the edge of a metal tool then smoothed it further by rubbing it with a paste of sand/dirt/water. Or they rubbed it with a rough stone, like a sand stone.

Another method was burnishing by rubbing it with smooth hard stone or a rounded piece of metal.

[katana]

I'm wondering whether the original handles were 'turned' on a primative lathe.... you would only need something like this ... a pole lathe....easily made from local timber and cordage.... these were in common use in medievel Europe and Asia. The cord is wrapped around the 'working' piece, as the pedal is pushed down, the cord 'spins' the wood one way, The branch attached to the other end of the cord is pulled down (putting it under tension) By releasing pressure on the pedal, the branch 'springs' back pulling the cord and 'spins' the 'worked piece' in the opposite direction......then the operation is continually repeated. As the wood is spun it can be worked with a knife of chisel.....as on a 'normal' lathe.

[Battara]

Good point (like the one on top of my head :D ) Katana. There is nothing like a good lathe. :D

[Freddy]

I finally found some time to finish this piece. Have a look :

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

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Baali-detailnewhandle.jpg

[Mapico1]

Freddy,this type of knife has a different handle than the Mangbetu ones.

[Mapico1]

pic forgotten,sorry

[Freddy]

I think, you're right. Perhaps, when I have some more time, I will make another (more slender) one.

[Lew]

Here is a pic of a Sudanese lathe and craftsman.


Lew

[Mapico1]

Freddy,
or this type of handle also Bali..
In ieder geval wat smaller....
Greetz

[Freddy]

Danny, I just saw a picture in www.Mambele.be of a Budu sickle knife, which resembles mine. The handle on this one is also more of the Mangbetu-type.