Chamba short sword for comment

Iain · 21st April 2011, 09:49 AM

Cau Martin,

Thanks very much for posting this. I knew you had several pieces from the general area and this is pretty much an exact match for construction method, pommel and guard style. The thickness of these blades is rather surprising to me as the weight is significant. I imagine your sword must weigh over 1.5kg?

I would imagine your sword may also be from the Chamba - who split into several distinct groups, one of which moved into the Cameroon highlands and adopted many local customs. This is a rather good overview of the people and their influence on the area: http://www.bca-usa.org/bca/balinyonga.html

Does anyone know of attributed Chama shields or spears? I would like to get a sense of how the entire ensemble of a Chamba warrior would look like.

Best,

Iain

Jim McDougall · 21st April 2011, 09:22 PM

Absolutely fantastic Martin!!!! Thank you so much for coming in on this, and especially for sharing this clearly important and corroborative example of sword. I had feared that anyone else with interest or knowledge on African swords had 'left the building'!!! Then you arrive like the cavalry

Yay!!!

Though I cannot claim any expertise on African weapons, I enjoy learning and these examples posted by Iain and you are intriguing anomalies which really add dimension to what has been learned on takoubas and the other swords of the regions.

All the best,
Jim

Martin Lubojacky · 22nd April 2011, 09:04 AM

Thank you Jim and Yain. One my colleagues bought simmilar blade recently but without crossguard. The blade is old, but they made new (conntemporary) scabbard and braid of handle in Tebbu style, which does not fit, Nevertheless, the blade is interesting - I will find it and snap it.
Regards
Martin

Iain · 22nd April 2011, 12:24 PM

I would be very interested to see the sword from your colleague. I am also curious about how the original handles on these swords should look. Mine has small pieces of cloth still on the pommel and under the guard. I wonder if the style would have been cloth wrapping then leather braided - perhaps even in a Tebu style, which is also seen on some takouba from this area.

Best,

Iain

Martin Lubojacky · 22nd April 2011, 03:27 PM

So - the sword is similar to Tim´s sword from the "round shields thread", but Tim´s sword is complete old original Tebbu (see perfectly elaborated braid on the handle). This sword has new handle (in Tebbu and surrounding tribes style, also commonly used in Mandara region) and new scabbard (nowadays I would say in "common Sahel style"). nevertheless what is really interesting is the blade. We cleaned it a little. The blade is old, very thick and heavy, (I am sure much heavier than Tim´s one and from this reason unsuitable as "arm" short sword). But it has no crossguard. Blade is 55 cms long, all sword has 71 cms.

Tim Simmons · 22nd April 2011, 07:07 PM

That blade looks ridged and heavy. The blade I have is flexable like any other light sabre. I have a short sword of similar form I got from Luc who always has nice clean stuff. The blade form is clearly the same. Not as long or heavy as yours, blade 45cm long with no flex. Just love the bovine horn guard. What do you think?

Tim Simmons · 22nd April 2011, 08:20 PM

While on the subject of Chamba I would like to clear something up. I have always known these two items were West African and now I can show clear link in form and function. Scroll down and click on "Mumye Iron Collar"-

http://www.coincoin.com/seXX2.htm#IRON

I have added the picture anyway.

22nd April 2011, 03:27 PM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	So - the sword is similar to Tim´s sword from the "round shields thread", but Tim´s sword is complete old original Tebbu (see perfectly elaborated braid on the handle). This sword has new handle (in Tebbu and surrounding tribes style, also commonly used in Mandara region) and new scabbard (nowadays I would say in "common Sahel style"). nevertheless what is really interesting is the blade. We cleaned it a little. The blade is old, very thick and heavy, (I am sure much heavier than Tim´s one and from this reason unsuitable as "arm" short sword). But it has no crossguard. Blade is 55 cms long, all sword has 71 cms. Attached Images

22nd April 2011, 07:07 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	That blade looks ridged and heavy. The blade I have is flexable like any other light sabre. I have a short sword of similar form I got from Luc who always has nice clean stuff. The blade form is clearly the same. Not as long or heavy as yours, blade 45cm long with no flex. Just love the bovine horn guard. What do you think? Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 22nd April 2011 at 07:21 PM.

22nd April 2011, 08:20 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	While on the subject of Chamba I would like to clear something up. I have always known these two items were West African and now I can show clear link in form and function. Scroll down and click on "Mumye Iron Collar"- http://www.coincoin.com/seXX2.htm#IRON I have added the picture anyway. Attached Images

21st April 2011, 09:49 AM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Cau Martin, Thanks very much for posting this. I knew you had several pieces from the general area and this is pretty much an exact match for construction method, pommel and guard style. The thickness of these blades is rather surprising to me as the weight is significant. I imagine your sword must weigh over 1.5kg? I would imagine your sword may also be from the Chamba - who split into several distinct groups, one of which moved into the Cameroon highlands and adopted many local customs. This is a rather good overview of the people and their influence on the area: http://www.bca-usa.org/bca/balinyonga.html Does anyone know of attributed Chama shields or spears? I would like to get a sense of how the entire ensemble of a Chamba warrior would look like. Best, Iain

21st April 2011, 09:22 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,193	Absolutely fantastic Martin!!!! Thank you so much for coming in on this, and especially for sharing this clearly important and corroborative example of sword. I had feared that anyone else with interest or knowledge on African swords had 'left the building'!!! Then you arrive like the cavalry Yay!!! Though I cannot claim any expertise on African weapons, I enjoy learning and these examples posted by Iain and you are intriguing anomalies which really add dimension to what has been learned on takoubas and the other swords of the regions. All the best, Jim

22nd April 2011, 09:04 AM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Thank you Jim and Yain. One my colleagues bought simmilar blade recently but without crossguard. The blade is old, but they made new (conntemporary) scabbard and braid of handle in Tebbu style, which does not fit, Nevertheless, the blade is interesting - I will find it and snap it. Regards Martin

22nd April 2011, 12:24 PM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	I would be very interested to see the sword from your colleague. I am also curious about how the original handles on these swords should look. Mine has small pieces of cloth still on the pommel and under the guard. I wonder if the style would have been cloth wrapping then leather braided - perhaps even in a Tebu style, which is also seen on some takouba from this area. Best, Iain