Two Additional Points
Dave F,
There are two additional points I didn’t mention in my first post. First, if your item is a just a sword and not a sword stick, why doesn’t it show any evidence of having had a means of suspension? I know that daisho were worn thrust through the obi but the sheaths had a knob to prevent the swords from sliding out. I don’t know of a similar form of sash carry in Africa. Secondly, if your blade wasn’t meant to be a sword stick, why is it so slender for its length and why is the OAL of the piece so coincidentally correct for a sword stick.
The absence of a ferrule is immaterial. As I pointed out in my first post, canes and sticks in Europe were oftentimes not meant for support and were simply carried as a status symbol. I should point out that this is the case with clubs in Africa. Rungu are too short to be used for support and even iwisa which are often long enough to be used as a stick, don’t have ferrules (and the four examples I have don’t show the type of wear at the tip that constant contact with the ground would cause).
Sincerely,
RobT
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