North Cameroon sword

[Iain]

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Iain,

I was wondering if you are able to comment on a point of interest to me regarding such Sahel swords and their relatives, ie. the iron used for the blades... Are you able to identify the blades in the following terms ? :-

a) Made in Europe and imported to Africa
b) Forged in Africa from scrap European iron
c) Forged in Africa from iron smelted there, using African iron ore
d) Some other category ??

Do you have a view on whether the above types of metal have an impact on corrosion levels and patterns, at all ?

Regards, Colin

Hi Colin,

a) Yes, these are the simplest in some ways. The quality difference is usually pretty clear.

b) Personally I'm not sure how to ID these. The finish, form, fullers etc. are what I usually go on to ID native versus non native.

c) Yes, some items like Tebu, some arm daggers etc. where it seems pretty clear when local ore is used.

d) I'd say none forged sheet metal items. Which are fairly easy to ID.

I have noticed different corrosion tendencies on European blades and sheet metal blades. However so much comes down to storage conditions, I'm not sure about using it as an ID method when it comes to European versus native steel/iron.

But I'm simply not much of a metallurgist!

Iain

[colin henshaw]

Originally Posted by Iain

Hi Colin,

a) Yes, these are the simplest in some ways. The quality difference is usually pretty clear.

b) Personally I'm not sure how to ID these. The finish, form, fullers etc. are what I usually go on to ID native versus non native.

c) Yes, some items like Tebu, some arm daggers etc. where it seems pretty clear when local ore is used.

d) I'd say none forged sheet metal items. Which are fairly easy to ID.

I have noticed different corrosion tendencies on European blades and sheet metal blades. However so much comes down to storage conditions, I'm not sure about using it as an ID method when it comes to European versus native steel/iron.

But I'm simply not much of a metallurgist!

Iain

Thanks for your reply, Iain. What do you think of this type of corrosion pattern ? I often see something similar on Somali and Sudanese blades, but not usually on Southern African weapons...

Regards.

[Iain]

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Thanks for your reply, Iain. What do you think of this type of corrosion pattern ? I often see something similar on Somali and Sudanese blades, but not usually on Southern African weapons...

Regards.

Hi Colin,

I've noticed the same and had also wondered if it had something to do with the steel source. However I've seen similar corrosion on older European blades from the area, so I wonder if it's perhaps more the environment than anything else?

[Iain]

I've received the sword in question. I am very, very pleased with it. The blade is one of the nicest and most subtly executed African blades I've owned. The fullering is superb.

The hilt is leather covered like a takouba and has a solid and heavy cylindrical pommel. Overall this is obviously a combat sword, sharp, well balanced.

I'm fascinated by swords like these, cruciform hilt swords that are distinct from the kaskara and the takouba and this blade form in particular is very unique.

Not the greatest photos again I'm afraid, nasty weather today and I had but a brief window outside before the rains started up again.

[A.alnakkas]

a very nice piece. Is the blade flexible? what are those holes inside the fullers?

[Iain]

Originally Posted by A.alnakkas

a very nice piece. Is the blade flexible? what are those holes inside the fullers?

Thanks! The holes likely held brass or copper 'slugs' which perhaps were there for talesmanic reasons.

The blade does have some flex and spring. Tempered to some degree for sure.

[Jim McDougall]

Regarding the holes which indeed often were filled with brass or copper, this was indeed as far as I have known, a talismanic gesture of sorts . This is something often seen on early Arab swords (as seen in Yucel) and seems to have certain corroboration in many early European blades with gold metal filled holes. It would be difficult to draw direct line of influence of course, but there are distinct similarities.

On the spotted corrosion, I also must disclaim any metallurgical skills, but personally have always thought perhaps such anomalies might result from inconsistency in the metals compounded in the blade or impurities pocketed in certain spots.
In another perspective, there have often been somewhat fanciful discussions directed toward blood residue resulting in reactions between the biological components and metals. While not necessarily empirically proven as far as I have known, there is a degree of plausibility. Obviously weapons were typically cleaned after such contact, however if the weapon remained unattended and left in place for a period, perhaps corrosive action might occur over time.
Things to consider