Guduf sword

Iain · 14th August 2011, 04:50 PM

This came while I was away on a trip, but I got around to snapping a few pictures of my own today.

It has a neat feel in the hand, almost rapier like, very agile, also very sharp! I'm quite impressed by the forging skills on display. A pity I don't have the scabbard, that and a Guduf shield and I'd be a very happy man.

The cow horn actually makes a really attractive guard and hilt with good balance and to be honest I think it's no more likely to come apart than many takouba hilts I've seen.

Tim Simmons · 14th August 2011, 06:58 PM

I think your blade is far more attractive than the one I have. My blade alone is just under 18 inches long. That appears to be a couple of inches short of yours. Interesting that in a similar fashion to your example, my blade has only the most subtle lightly forged midrib on one side however the other is not flat like yours but slightly rounded. The tip to my example is not a point but rounded, like many tabouka? The forged edge on opposite sides is interesting reminding me of work far from the region. Only this top section of the blade has the cutting edges

I forgot to add that I will be spending a few days is in Prauge this November. Are there enthno collections to see other than this link?
http://www.nm.cz/sluzby-detail.php?f_id=32

Iain · 15th August 2011, 02:15 PM

Hi Tim,

I guess yours is probably a little later. The blade material also seems a little different? Is it steel or iron? The edge on my is very well forged, I've often wondered if in these smaller village oriented societies you see less harshly ground and sharpened edges because the chap that made it was around to fix it when you needed it. The presentation side and flat side on mine seems to echo a lot of work from these regions, including takouba where the guards almost invariably have a presentation face.

In terms of the tip, I think yours follows mine fairly closely - I don't have an acute tip, but a rounded tip as well. Although it's certainly a bit more pointy looking. But nothing like a Tebu sword for example.

I'll PM you about Prague. :-)

Tim Simmons · 15th August 2011, 06:06 PM

Is it steel or iron? thats a hard one. Well it is steel and well tempered allowing the blade to flex. The edges "top half" have been worked to a higher carbon content and display a brittleness as can be seen by the chips. I am not an expert but I suspect under the simple appearance there is considerable skill.

Iain · 15th August 2011, 06:22 PM

Right, I was asking because mine is fairly inflexible and I think has a relatively low carbon content - I'm not going to push it to find out! I've had a few other iron blades form the area as well.

I've looked on mine for any signs of differential edge hardening, but can't see any, perhaps the blades are work hardened on the edge.

Agree completely on the considerable skill involved.

Tim Simmons · 15th August 2011, 07:24 PM

Found this site. Great pictures, reminds me of Great Zimbabwe without the 19th early 20th century eththnographic ego colonial muddle? Click on the green arrows to navigate.

http://www.mandaras.info/StrongholdsNCameroon/fv40.htm

Luc LEFEBVRE · 18th August 2011, 10:14 PM

I had this one in my collection a few time ago.

14th August 2011, 04:50 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	This came while I was away on a trip, but I got around to snapping a few pictures of my own today. It has a neat feel in the hand, almost rapier like, very agile, also very sharp! I'm quite impressed by the forging skills on display. A pity I don't have the scabbard, that and a Guduf shield and I'd be a very happy man. The cow horn actually makes a really attractive guard and hilt with good balance and to be honest I think it's no more likely to come apart than many takouba hilts I've seen. Attached Images

14th August 2011, 06:58 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	I think your blade is far more attractive than the one I have. My blade alone is just under 18 inches long. That appears to be a couple of inches short of yours. Interesting that in a similar fashion to your example, my blade has only the most subtle lightly forged midrib on one side however the other is not flat like yours but slightly rounded. The tip to my example is not a point but rounded, like many tabouka? The forged edge on opposite sides is interesting reminding me of work far from the region. Only this top section of the blade has the cutting edges I forgot to add that I will be spending a few days is in Prauge this November. Are there enthno collections to see other than this link? http://www.nm.cz/sluzby-detail.php?f_id=32 Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 14th August 2011 at 07:10 PM. Reason: spelling

18th August 2011, 10:14 PM	#7
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	I had this one in my collection a few time ago. Attached Images

15th August 2011, 02:15 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Hi Tim, I guess yours is probably a little later. The blade material also seems a little different? Is it steel or iron? The edge on my is very well forged, I've often wondered if in these smaller village oriented societies you see less harshly ground and sharpened edges because the chap that made it was around to fix it when you needed it. The presentation side and flat side on mine seems to echo a lot of work from these regions, including takouba where the guards almost invariably have a presentation face. In terms of the tip, I think yours follows mine fairly closely - I don't have an acute tip, but a rounded tip as well. Although it's certainly a bit more pointy looking. But nothing like a Tebu sword for example. I'll PM you about Prague. :-)

15th August 2011, 06:06 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Is it steel or iron? thats a hard one. Well it is steel and well tempered allowing the blade to flex. The edges "top half" have been worked to a higher carbon content and display a brittleness as can be seen by the chips. I am not an expert but I suspect under the simple appearance there is considerable skill.

15th August 2011, 06:22 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Right, I was asking because mine is fairly inflexible and I think has a relatively low carbon content - I'm not going to push it to find out! I've had a few other iron blades form the area as well. I've looked on mine for any signs of differential edge hardening, but can't see any, perhaps the blades are work hardened on the edge. Agree completely on the considerable skill involved.

15th August 2011, 07:24 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Found this site. Great pictures, reminds me of Great Zimbabwe without the 19th early 20th century eththnographic ego colonial muddle? Click on the green arrows to navigate. http://www.mandaras.info/StrongholdsNCameroon/fv40.htm