Salampaso short sword

[Matt Splatt]

Hi all, I just got this and I am quite happy with it. It looks pretty old and it definitely has seen a lot of use. The scabbard is pretty complete, just missing a couple of leather and copper bits. The craftsmanship displayed on the scabbard is impressive, the plaiting on the central ridge is the finest I've ever encountered. I know these were used in the male initiation rites of the Salampasu but were they fighting weapons? The blade is very heavy and it seems like an effective close-quarters hacking weapon. I would welcome any thoughts and or comments.

[Lew]

Matt

That is a good example you have there too bad the scabbard is missing a piece at the bottom. Still you did good.

Lew

[Tim Simmons]

Needs a jolly good clean but leave the iron scale in the centre of the blade from the forte upwards. Nice scabbard.

[Freddy]

Nice old piece.

Here's the front cover of the book 'Dodelijk mooi' (Deadly beauty). This is the way the natives used to wear this kind of sword.

I don't think it was only used for ceremonies as these are real weapons.

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

[Bill M]

Were these ever used as tools?

[Freddy]

I once had a Salampasu sword which had a piece of cloth tied round the base of the blade (near the handle). It was very dirty and when I pulled it, it desintegrated. At the time, I wondered what it was.

Later I found some pics in a German book on African weapons. Both Salampasu swords had cloth tied to the blade.

I should have left my sword untouched, but I didn't know :o :p :o

Here's a pic from that book :

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

[Matt Splatt]

Thanks for the input guys. Freddy, I really need to get a copy of that book! Bill, the blade is definetly stout enough to serve as a tool. From the wear on mine, I would guess that it was used to clear brush at a minimum. in fact, the heavy wear is only apparent on one side. May be this was done on purpose to preserve a sharp edge if the knife had to be used for defense.

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

I have a Pende sword with a piece of textile between blade and handle.
Luc

[Freddy]

The picture came from this book :

AFRIKANISCHE WAFFEN (African weapons) by Werner Fischer and Manfred A. Zirngibl (1978)

There's also a second book by one of these authors :

SELTENE AFRIKANISCHE KURZWAFFEN (rare short african short weapons) by Manfred A. Zirngibl (1983)

Both books are written in the German and English language with a lot of pics.

Sometimes they pop up on ebay, but then they are very expensive.

I don't know why, I just bought them from the publisher :p Here's the link :

https://ssl.kundenserver.de/s87821224.einsundeinsshop.de/sess/utn;jsessionid=15473f4c8465634/shopdata/index.shopscript

https://ssl.kundenserver.de/s87821224.einsundeinsshop.de/sess/utn;jsessionid=15473f4c8465634/shopdata/index.shopscript

[Freddy]

I see the link doesn't work :confused:

Just type 'Zirngibl' in the search engine (Schnellsuche) and you will find the books :)

[Matt Splatt]

Thanks again Freddy, I've ordered both books and should have them by Christmas!

[KuKulzA28]

Were these ever used as tools?
I'd like to resurrect Bill Marsh's question as it interests me greatly as well.

My guess would be yes. A lot of cultures in that sort of setting used their swords for ceremony, war, and work... such as PingPu knives, kachin dao, mandau parangs, Visayan bolos... but I'll let the experts speak. ;)

[KuKulzA28]

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