I NEED HELP

[Flavio]

Hello, this is my last purchase. On the blade there is a a kind of sun near the handle and on the half of the blade a simple circle. I think that is Manding or west Africa in general. Any comment is welcome Length 54.5 cm width 5.5 cm

[ariel]

Looks Sudani/Somalese to me.

[tom hyle]

In the flattened cone shape of the grip I can see what you mean.....I suspect the handle was originally covered with leather. I don't know why this leaps to my mind with this particular piece. The narrow pinky grabber is unusual, no? The offset grooves do not seem like E African swords? More like Congo region/central/West Africa? Afrasians and E coast Africans seem to prefer symetrically grooved/midribbed blades?

[tom hyle]

What thoughts about the two bands where a belt or belts or something attached to the sheath? I can see the relation to takouba and to Manding swords there.......but would this be worn like a longsword? Manding might be a good guess; I can see where one might lean toward the area of division between Berber and Bantu......unorganized morning thoughts.....

[Flavio]

Hello Tom.
I don't think that the handle in orgin was covered with leather: the patination on it is very deep and dark and i think that a kind of color can create only with many many years. I know that normally the Manding sword are the handle wrapped with leather, but this could be a poor version.
About the two bands where a belt could be attached, i think that are only for decoration, because on the other side of the scabbard there is already a broken belt.
The decoration on the scabbard, like the material used, is quite tipical of the west Africa and all the sudanese region, maybe also Tuareg.