African dagger or short sword

Cathey · 1st February 2022, 05:20 AM

Hi Guys

I picked this up at a local auction but no idea what it is. Any thoughts?

It is 18 ¼” (46.4 cm) long over all with a 13 ½” (34.4 cm) blade which is 2 ¾” (7 cm) wide at the swollen end. I had thought it might be a Songye, but I couldn’t find anything quite like it in Stones Glossary and African weapons are not my strong point.

Sajen · 1st February 2022, 07:07 AM

It is a Kuba knife.

The handle inlays are typical. Here a similar example taken from this site: http://www.africanarms.com/gallery?a...ife&ba-page=11

Regards,
Detlef

PS: I don't find an exact match but by the inlays so can see the similarity.

Cathey · 3rd February 2022, 05:58 AM

I have looked at a number of similar items, diregarding the hilt and just concentrating on the unusual blade shape. First I found a similar Kuba short sword posted previously on Ethnographical:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=African+Sword

On the site http://www.memoire-africaine.com/armes2.html
I found the following that again on blade shape looked very similar.

Songye-Eki-Nsapo / Congo 1900-1920
Sword NGALA-Bangala
BENA-LULUA LUBA DRC
Glaive Tchokwé-Lunda 1900 Angola / Zaire

Cheers Cathey

1st February 2022, 05:20 AM	#1
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 284	African dagger or short sword Hi Guys I picked this up at a local auction but no idea what it is. Any thoughts? It is 18 ¼” (46.4 cm) long over all with a 13 ½” (34.4 cm) blade which is 2 ¾” (7 cm) wide at the swollen end. I had thought it might be a Songye, but I couldn’t find anything quite like it in Stones Glossary and African weapons are not my strong point. Attached Images

1st February 2022, 07:07 AM	#2
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 9,416	It is a Kuba knife. The handle inlays are typical. Here a similar example taken from this site: http://www.africanarms.com/gallery?a...ife&ba-page=11 Regards, Detlef PS: I don't find an exact match but by the inlays so can see the similarity. Attached Images Last edited by Sajen; 1st February 2022 at 07:34 PM. Reason: add info

3rd February 2022, 05:58 AM	#3
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 284	Songye-Eki-Nsapo / Congo 1900-1920? I have looked at a number of similar items, diregarding the hilt and just concentrating on the unusual blade shape. First I found a similar Kuba short sword posted previously on Ethnographical: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...=African+Sword On the site http://www.memoire-africaine.com/armes2.html I found the following that again on blade shape looked very similar. Songye-Eki-Nsapo / Congo 1900-1920 Sword NGALA-Bangala BENA-LULUA LUBA DRC Glaive Tchokwé-Lunda 1900 Angola / Zaire Cheers Cathey