An European - Manding sword ?

[Jim McDougall]

I tend to agree with references to similarities to French sabres with this example, as it does reflect influences of 19th century French military forms. This does seem a 20th century interpretation of this form, and would concur with French colonial presence of course. It also seems that varying forms of European style stirrup hilt sabres are known to have been used by various military and para-military factions in West Africa even recently (one was seen in a photo of a khaki uniformed individual of a rebel faction which I believe was in Sierra Leone, from magazine item several years ago).


The Manding sabres which are easily recognized with elaborate guardless hilts and decorated scabbards most definitely used European blades, often Solingen but more frequently French sabre blades. It seems that during the 19th century and into the early 20th, tribes such as the Manding preferred thier own mounts and had no inclination to reproduce European hilts, at least as far as I am aware. The Tuareg also have maintained thier own familiar mounts on takouba, despite the obvious use of European blades regularly.

I would consider this sword intended for use by tribal militant groups in most likely West African regions, and probably well into 20th century. It is interesting to see the braided wire on the grip which seems skillfully applied despite the ill fitting brass mounts, reminding me of many rudimentary restoration jobs on early military sabres, as might be found with local armourers or blacksmiths simply furbishing weapons for troops. It does not seem that Manding or other Saharan tribesmen would be interested in trying to duplicate such military detail, nor using a weapon atypical of thier traditional form.

Best regards,
Jim