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Freddy
20th July 2007, 07:21 PM
I found this one about a week ago on ebay. There was not a lot of intrest in this item. This is probably because the seller didn't know what he was selling.

http://cgi.benl.ebay.be/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270141945104

From the handle I could see it was a Yaka-sword. But the blade looked a bit strange. When it arrived, I was very happy to see it was a very well forged blade. On both sides there's some engraved decoration. The leather covered handle also has a very nice patination.

The shape of this sword reminds me a bit of the shape of a Roman sword.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2533-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2535-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2534.jpg

I put this sword besides an 'ordinary' Yaka-sword to show the difference. Normally, Yaka-swords have a more rounded tip.
My newest find was forged in this shape and not 'reshaped'.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2536-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2537-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding2538.jpg
Tim Simmons
20th July 2007, 07:43 PM
This blade form has many subtleties. A great buy :cool:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4667&highlight=songye
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4684
Flavio
20th July 2007, 07:59 PM
Hello Freddy, interesting piece! The blade is clearly Songye and the handle is clearly Yaka, so is this a different Yaka sword, or a different Songye sword???? :D The two tribes are also quite distant! maybe is easier and believable that a good blade treveled than an handle. Again very nteresting :)

Edit: I noted also that the handle shape near the blade is different from an "usual" yaka handle with yaka blade, so the hanlde was shaped to fit the blade so maybe the blade arrived in a yaka village and there was "dressed". Unfortunatly ther is no scabbard. So I think that you are right Freddy, a different yaka sword :D ;)