Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
25th January 2026, 09:50 PM
|
|
Replies: 13
Views: 1,512
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
22nd January 2026, 08:24 PM
|
|
Replies: 5
Views: 1,351
A Fitawrari was the "commander of the advance...
A Fitawrari was the "commander of the advance guard", and this title functioned sort of in parallel with the others. A Fitawrari commanded a group of picked men from all the contingents of the army...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
22nd January 2026, 07:07 PM
|
|
Replies: 5
Views: 1,351
On the contrary, these were not just "dress"...
On the contrary, these were not just "dress" shields but used for war, at least back into the 19th century and beyond. Within the chewa warrior system of Ethiopia, there was a prideful culture of...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
12th January 2026, 10:27 AM
|
|
Replies: 18
Views: 3,132
Indeed, these throwing knives of the "northern...
Indeed, these throwing knives of the "northern family" were in common use in the area near Lake Chad. Attached is a photography of a rider with several on his shoulder.
As for the knives of the...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
9th January 2026, 04:34 PM
|
|
Replies: 18
Views: 3,132
That the sickle swords of the Congo-Ubangui...
That the sickle swords of the Congo-Ubangui region were used to reach around shields is indeed something that has been said, though there are no sources that comment on it directly. As Ian says, it...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
16th December 2025, 08:28 PM
|
|
Replies: 9
Views: 8,184
I think there are merits to both arguments,...
I think there are merits to both arguments, because the fact is that Africa is an extremely diverse continent and what is true in one region may not hold in another.
West Africa was populated by...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
5th December 2025, 10:16 AM
|
|
Replies: 21
Views: 13,374
Great idea for a thread!
I find Fang ntsakh...
Great idea for a thread!
I find Fang ntsakh swords extremely aesthetically pleasing.
There is something about their shape and proportions that is very attractive
These two examples are...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
24th November 2025, 03:48 PM
|
|
Replies: 1
Views: 7,998
West African dagger
I just got this nice example of a West African dagger.
It's around 38 cm in length, which is typical, with a thick and rigid blade, apparently rather well made. The leatherwork is decent too,...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
30th September 2025, 04:37 PM
|
|
Replies: 13
Views: 25,950
But they are functional and simple weapons. The...
But they are functional and simple weapons. The unsheathed swords are pretty spartan, except for the quality of the leatherwork, that varies a lot. And there is also variation in how much decoration...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
29th September 2025, 09:54 AM
|
|
Replies: 13
Views: 25,950
Those certainly are interesting questions.
...
Those certainly are interesting questions.
Regarding 1, in traditional Mandinka society there is a tripartite hereditary division between horon or free farmers (from which the "noblemen" and...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
28th September 2025, 04:12 PM
|
|
Replies: 13
Views: 25,950
The disintegration of the great states of the...
The disintegration of the great states of the Western Sahel during the late 16th and 17th centuries was definitely important in the history of these sabers. However, the collective use in this...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
27th September 2025, 09:08 AM
|
|
Replies: 13
Views: 25,950
This is a facinating topic I am very fond of.
...
This is a facinating topic I am very fond of.
First, some terminological considerations. These are often called Mandinka sabers in relation to the Mandinka, who were one of the main users. The...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
12th August 2025, 11:51 PM
|
|
Replies: 32
Views: 68,415
When reviewing the history of the kaskara and...
When reviewing the history of the kaskara and swords in Sudan, one must also turn towards Ethiopia. In Gondarine era paintings one can see relatively frequently swords that do look quite similar to...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
17th June 2025, 08:38 AM
|
|
Replies: 6
Views: 16,728
Very nice sword.
Regarding the finds of the...
Very nice sword.
Regarding the finds of the article, they are not surprising. I believe many have been way too eager to identify any decent-looking blade in an African sword as European made,...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
14th June 2025, 09:33 AM
|
|
Replies: 31
Views: 117,347
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
15th April 2025, 09:57 AM
|
|
Replies: 4
Views: 26,979
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
10th April 2025, 03:44 PM
|
|
Replies: 11
Views: 21,946
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
10th April 2025, 10:34 AM
|
|
Replies: 11
Views: 21,946
Indeed a peculiar find. It does look West...
Indeed a peculiar find. It does look West African, and relatively modern.
As far as I know, the only ones in the region that appear historically in the sources using maces/clubs were a group of...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
1st April 2025, 08:48 PM
|
|
Replies: 59
Views: 91,157
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
31st March 2025, 07:11 PM
|
|
Replies: 59
Views: 91,157
I don't doubt they were used in combat. Thrusts...
I don't doubt they were used in combat. Thrusts could be problematic due to the risks of the hand sliding up the blade, but it is not an issue if you don't thrust with it and just use it to cut. A...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
24th February 2025, 04:09 PM
|
|
Replies: 9
Views: 46,337
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
20th February 2025, 07:17 PM
|
|
Replies: 7
Views: 48,027
Beautiful swords.
Can I ask how thick is it...
Beautiful swords.
Can I ask how thick is it near the tip? And those measurements for the bigger ones?
I would not discount their use in combat. Keep in mind that the Fang lived in an...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
2nd December 2024, 03:53 PM
|
|
Replies: 5
Views: 12,039
Welcome!
The leatherwork on the scabbard has...
Welcome!
The leatherwork on the scabbard has a clear Mandinka style, and European-inspired guards like this one aren't too uncommon. A Mandinka origin is likely but not sure, and geographically...
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
28th November 2024, 09:00 AM
|
|
Replies: 9
Views: 22,339
|
|
Forum: Ethnographic Weapons
27th November 2024, 07:49 PM
|
|
Replies: 9
Views: 22,339
|
