Mystery (Ceremonial?) Knife...
 

So a friend of mine who is a local antique dealer showed me this today. The hilt and scabbard are made of bronze. The blade, which is flat and unsharpened, is iron. The knife and scabbard together must weigh more than 2 lbs / 1kg. The back of the hilt is hollowed out, as is part of the scabbard.

African? European? Asian? Ceremonial? Movie prop? :confused:

It's mine for the taking if I want it...

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/9587/wsheath.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3143/hiltz.jpg

http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/9408/hiltnpommel.jpg

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/9776/backi.jpg


I didn't even think to check to see if the hilt was hollow in the grip, or if I could see the tang... but I'll be seeing him later this week.

African?
 

Semms african to me, maybe fron Benin? I remember see one similar in a african art shop some time ago.
best regards

Hi Carlos,

Thanks for the reply... that was my initial reaction to the piece. I'm hoping more will chime in as well. 97 views? Someone must have an opinion or have seen something similar... :confused:

This should be from Nigeria.
regards,
Martin
P.S. And, I am very afraid - made just to be sold

Hi Martin,


Thank you, and no worries... I took pictures of it at his house to put it up in front of the forum before I bought it for this very reason. :)

I have several African pieces - edged weapons, masks, and a shield - all which were made for indigenous use (ceremonial, warfare, or otherwise), and I wish not to dilute the collection with pieces made purely for the tourist market.

Anybody else want to chime in?

This is a Bata, Vere, Namdschi knife from Nigeria/Cameroon.
In fact, it don't seems to be a good one.

We have a match! :) Thank you Luc... You have a PM coming your way.

Similar handle, the sword is nearly 1 meter long

So were these intended to be used for ceremonial purposes, as status symbols, or were any of them intended for utilitarian use? The example my friend has is heavy - on the back side of 1kg - and as mentioned, the blade is a simple piece of flattened iron with no sharp edges.

Are you still under the impression my friend's example was made for the tourist trade?

I think Luc would know better. My personal opinion is status symbol.
Re tourist o real one: This is my personal opinion again, as I have send such "black patina" from my two pieces (one sword, one bracelet) to the laboratory and the resalt was "fake", false patina. On the opposite, when I bought such more or less current item directly in Mandara mountains, the brass was never so dark.

There is also one possibility: In Rhumsiki I saw they stored old shields, bows and spears below the roof, just above the fireplace, and the items were black because of ash. The best would be to analyse patina.
Regards,
Martin

Looking at the patina.....to me, is too uniform (suggesting it is not 'natural'). The hollow in the handle is, too me, a little suspicious, as if it should be hung on the wall as decoration (hollow side to the wall) ....this saves using brass/bronze which wouldn't be seen.
You also have to ask yourself, why a 'status' symbol would left 'uncleaned' for so long (long enough for such a dark patina to develop)

Regards David

Fake

Thank you David, Luc, & Martin for your input and feedback... I'm glad I didn't "jump the gun," so to speak, and pick this up only to later regret it (been there, done that ;) ).

Rgds,

Chris