African Short Sword identity
What can forum members tell me about this recent purchase?
Catalogue description:
Late 19th Century African knife. 16 ½ inch double edged blade with leaf engraving. Leather wrapped crossguard. Lizard skin grip. Chiseled steel spike pommel. Contained in its leather and lizard skin scabbard wth leather belt loop.
My stats:
Weight: 14.1oz (0.4kg), 1lb 2.3 oz (0.52kg) including scabbard.
Length overall: 23'' (58.5cm) Blade: 16.5'' (42cm)
Blade width: 1.27'' (32.5mm) parallel sided blade, narrows sharply to a point starting 3’’ (7.6cm) from tip.
Distal taper 0.21'' (5.4mm) at ricasso, 0.19'' (4.8mm) at mid blade,. 0.19'' (4.8mm) 2 inches from tip.
The knife(short sword) and scabbard are in excellent condition which makes me suspect a later date than 19th century. However, it seems to be a very good quality piece, with nice pin etching on the blade. The sharp edges are in fact hollow ground and the whole thing seems nicely constructed and finished.
So, high end tourist piece?, old sleeper?. Madingo/mandinka? All comments and suggestion welcome as ever.
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