Hi Colin and Tim
,
thank you for your input, the braided wire maybe plastic coated, (looking through a magnifying glass) but of a type that looks 'antiquated' ....if that makes sense ...ie not a modern polymer. But, I feel the handle is foreign to the original blade, the tang being exposed suggests that this was a later repair. The 'patina' of the blade does suggest some age, older, I think, than the 'wire wrap'. I believe had the scabbard been available it would help to ID it's origins more accurately....but am happy to think that this is late 19th C to early 20th C, 'locally' forged in or around East Africa (
) .
It is very nicely forged, has good temper and is, I think, a nice example of an 'older' seme... certainly a weapon ... shame about the fact there is no scabbard...but I am happy , never the less
Regards David