Leather Sheath Sword

Jeff D · 9th April 2005, 05:31 PM

Hi Tim the crocodile mark is from a martindale machete http://www.ralphmartindale.co.uk/ral...e/africa1.html
http://www.cutsforthknives.com/catalogs/1/MM.htm .

Jeff

Ian · 10th April 2005, 07:26 AM

This is another one that seems to reflect the older style. OAL 24 in. Blade 20 in.

Ian.

Tim Simmons · 10th April 2005, 08:45 AM

Nice picture Ian,trying to get the lighting right on a table in a spare room with no real bright lamps can be testing.I am moving from the seme to the spear with the same swelling.May I be so bold as to suggest that this model is also a relativly modern departure from the older forms I have post here and in the other spear thread.I have no real proof except that I have only seen it in modern photographs and have never handled one that seems very old.This weapon should excite kung fu types as it is more like a sharp bladed staff when in your hands.Tim

tom hyle · 10th April 2005, 10:07 AM

hmmmm....yeah; I'm seeing what you're saying; the older (?)spear has a round swelling at the bottom, which has become vestigial on the newer(?) one, but which instead, has a wide seme-like tip.
Ian, yours seems almost like a transitional type sword, with the rounded, ringed handle, and the narrow, more parallel sided shaft/blade base (these are usually sharpened like macete; only from about 1/3 to 1/2 way down their length) of the old(?) style Tim is showing us, but also with the xtra wide spatulate(?) tip of the newer(?) type. Also, its size seems in-betweenish?

Freddy · 10th April 2005, 12:33 PM

Tom,

I'd like to point out that the Tutsi- (or Shi-) swords are quite different from the Masai-swords. I agree that they have a similar middle rib, but the total shape of the blade is different.

Here's a typical Tutsi-sword (or short sword) :

Also notice the tip of the blade. The Masai-sword is more round.

The total length of this piece is 43,5 cm. The blade measures 32,5 cm. This blade has a maximum width of 1,8 cm. The wooden scabbard is completely covered with copper binding.

10th April 2005, 07:26 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,470	Another older example This is another one that seems to reflect the older style. OAL 24 in. Blade 20 in. Ian. Attached Images

10th April 2005, 08:45 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Nice picture Ian,trying to get the lighting right on a table in a spare room with no real bright lamps can be testing.I am moving from the seme to the spear with the same swelling.May I be so bold as to suggest that this model is also a relativly modern departure from the older forms I have post here and in the other spear thread.I have no real proof except that I have only seen it in modern photographs and have never handled one that seems very old.This weapon should excite kung fu types as it is more like a sharp bladed staff when in your hands.Tim Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 10th April 2005 at 07:47 PM.

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9th April 2005, 05:31 PM	#1
Jeff D Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 473	Hi Tim the crocodile mark is from a martindale machete http://www.ralphmartindale.co.uk/ral...e/africa1.html http://www.cutsforthknives.com/catalogs/1/MM.htm . Jeff

10th April 2005, 10:07 AM	#4
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	hmmmm....yeah; I'm seeing what you're saying; the older (?)spear has a round swelling at the bottom, which has become vestigial on the newer(?) one, but which instead, has a wide seme-like tip. Ian, yours seems almost like a transitional type sword, with the rounded, ringed handle, and the narrow, more parallel sided shaft/blade base (these are usually sharpened like macete; only from about 1/3 to 1/2 way down their length) of the old(?) style Tim is showing us, but also with the xtra wide spatulate(?) tip of the newer(?) type. Also, its size seems in-betweenish?

10th April 2005, 12:33 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Tom, I'd like to point out that the Tutsi- (or Shi-) swords are quite different from the Masai-swords. I agree that they have a similar middle rib, but the total shape of the blade is different. Here's a typical Tutsi-sword (or short sword) : Also notice the tip of the blade. The Masai-sword is more round. The total length of this piece is 43,5 cm. The blade measures 32,5 cm. This blade has a maximum width of 1,8 cm. The wooden scabbard is completely covered with copper binding.