west african knife. Which tribal group ?

Iain · 29th October 2011, 04:00 PM

Hi Mauro,

I agree the sword is probably not Baule, it is possible to see this blade style in other cultures.

For example here is an almost takouba like sword that was sold at auction a while ago with this style blade.
http://p2.la-img.com/690/18683/6326445_1_l.jpg

And here is an interesting wooden sword with a similar hilt shape.
http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/...20%2F%20%20394

I am sure I have seen at least one very similar sword before but I am having trouble remembering where...

Cheers,

Iain

Lew · 29th October 2011, 04:10 PM

Mauro

Here is a link to one I have with a scabbard.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...frican+machete

Iain · 29th October 2011, 04:24 PM

That's the one I was thinking of! The leather decoration on Lew's example certainly makes me think of the general Sahel region. It doesn't not seem specifically Manding though (lack of the usual cross hatch motif and rounded 'ribs' of leather).

Mauro · 29th October 2011, 05:29 PM

thanks Lew and Iain for the information. I am not able to open the http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology...%20%2F%20%20394 Is there any mistake in the link ? I am happy to have found a twin of my machete and it also has a scabbard that add some information about the possible provenience of the piece. Thanks also to Lew for the connection to a previous thread that contains the list of symbols for west Africa. I already noted some of them in some swords but I have to find where.

Iain · 29th October 2011, 05:52 PM

I hope this link will work.
http://anthro.amnh.org//anthropology...vMHs1Huc.email

Mauro · 3rd November 2011, 10:03 PM

Iain, it works but it is not very similar. Thanks anyway.
Lew, would you be so kind to add a more detailed photo of your scabbard ?

ariel · 3rd November 2011, 10:19 PM

Isn't it peculiarly similar to the so-called Beduin pseudo-shashkas?

29th October 2011, 04:00 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Hi Mauro, I agree the sword is probably not Baule, it is possible to see this blade style in other cultures. For example here is an almost takouba like sword that was sold at auction a while ago with this style blade. http://p2.la-img.com/690/18683/6326445_1_l.jpg And here is an interesting wooden sword with a similar hilt shape. http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/...20%2F%20%20394 I am sure I have seen at least one very similar sword before but I am having trouble remembering where... Cheers, Iain

29th October 2011, 04:10 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Mauro Here is a link to one I have with a scabbard. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...frican+machete

29th October 2011, 04:24 PM	#3
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	That's the one I was thinking of! The leather decoration on Lew's example certainly makes me think of the general Sahel region. It doesn't not seem specifically Manding though (lack of the usual cross hatch motif and rounded 'ribs' of leather).

29th October 2011, 05:29 PM	#4
Mauro Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 83	thanks Lew and Iain for the information. I am not able to open the http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology...%20%2F%20%20394 Is there any mistake in the link ? I am happy to have found a twin of my machete and it also has a scabbard that add some information about the possible provenience of the piece. Thanks also to Lew for the connection to a previous thread that contains the list of symbols for west Africa. I already noted some of them in some swords but I have to find where.

29th October 2011, 05:52 PM	#5
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	I hope this link will work. http://anthro.amnh.org//anthropology...vMHs1Huc.email

3rd November 2011, 10:03 PM	#6
Mauro Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 83	Iain, it works but it is not very similar. Thanks anyway. Lew, would you be so kind to add a more detailed photo of your scabbard ?

3rd November 2011, 10:19 PM	#7
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Isn't it peculiarly similar to the so-called Beduin pseudo-shashkas?