Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

tom hyle · 7th March 2005, 12:24 PM

I see the gunstock resemblance, now that you mention it, and I'm quite unconvinced that's a mouth' it looks like a sword fell on it or something to me. Is it on both sides? I don't see any eyes or other facial features; only the edge loops. Those loops along the edges of the handle display some variability, and so seem handmade. The handle would be lost-wax cast directly to the tang, which is fairly common in Sudanic and sub-Sudanic Africa. The small rounds on the snakes may be made by a punch, which would not be a neccessarily modern tool, but were more likely cast in place; old African castings are not usually reworked after casting except for repairs of flaws or damage and usually some polishing.

7th March 2005, 12:24 PM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	I see the gunstock resemblance, now that you mention it, and I'm quite unconvinced that's a mouth' it looks like a sword fell on it or something to me. Is it on both sides? I don't see any eyes or other facial features; only the edge loops. Those loops along the edges of the handle display some variability, and so seem handmade. The handle would be lost-wax cast directly to the tang, which is fairly common in Sudanic and sub-Sudanic Africa. The small rounds on the snakes may be made by a punch, which would not be a neccessarily modern tool, but were more likely cast in place; old African castings are not usually reworked after casting except for repairs of flaws or damage and usually some polishing.