Manding sword

VANDOO · 24th September 2014, 04:35 PM

IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD OLDER EXAMPLE WITH ALL ITS PARTS THERE. IT DOES SHOW USE AND WEAR SO IT WAS USED AND BELONGED TO SOMEONE AND WAS NOT JUST COLLECTED NEW. I SUSPECT JUST ABOUT ANY STEEL WAS USED IN THAT COUNTRY SO A SAW IS POSSIBLE IF THE BLADE IS THIN AND FLEXIBLE LIKE A SAW BLADE. THE DECORATION ON THE SCABBARD MAY GIVE SOME IDEA AS TO THE SPECIFIC REGION AND TRIBE BUT IF IT DOES I DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO SAY.

blue lander · 24th September 2014, 05:45 PM

Thanks. It is thin and flexible like a crosscut saw. The only unsaw-like thing about it is the fuller, but its so shallow it may have been added later.

It has no edge though. It's almost as thick at the edge as it is at the spine.

VANDOO · 24th September 2014, 08:24 PM

WHEN FIREARMS REPLACED EDGED WEAPONS SOME SWORDS WERE STILL WORN. IN THE EARLY YEARS THEY WERE LIKELY STILL EDGED AND A GOOD BACK UP WEAPON BUT IN LATER YEARS PERHAPS BECAME A ITEM OF DRESS AND NOT A WEAPON. STILL A ETHNOGRAPHIC ITEM BUT NO LONGER A FUNCTIONING SWORD BUT JUST FOR SHOW, DANCE AND CEREMONY.

spiral · 24th September 2014, 09:22 PM

& to sell to those who travel for pleasure...

Unsharpened isn't a good sign...

Spiral

Kubur · 25th September 2014, 09:27 AM

Most of the time they use springs of old trucks to do the blades.
It is not an old sword.
I will post later an old example with a military French blade of the end of 18th.
Kubur

Gavin Nugent · 27th September 2014, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kubur

Most of the time they use springs of old trucks to do the blades.
Kubur

Trucks of no use were not that plentiful but sure did exist.

I know of tourist swords from the 50s & 60's being made from tin cans that Europeans discarded. Swords could be made right there in front of you with these smelted tins.

I have read about rail way lines being torn up and turned to sharp pointy things in Ethiopia.

Steel rod used for spear heads.

Almost anything bought to Africa through EU contact was used in many regions.

What iron ore producers and native smiths there were, in native context made weapons suitable for war as the ore was very precious.

One of the type discussed that I sold a few years back and have not yet found another of this quality to replace it.

http://www.swordsantiqueweapons.com/s241_full.html

Jim McDougall · 27th September 2014, 07:58 PM

Kubur, exquisite blade of late 18th into 19th c. with Cassignard (Nantes) style decorative motif. It is always outstanding to find these kinds of vintage blades in these Manding sabres, which indeed typically were examples of French origin.

Gav, thank you for adding these exemplars from the spectrum of sources often providing material for blades and various sword components in these colonial areas. In native and frontier contexts, recycling was absolutely necessary when not simply convenient. Countless numbers of these old blades circulated through these regions for more generations than we can imagine.

Kubur · 25th September 2014, 12:38 PM

It is not mine but it will give you a good idea of an old one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120663514173

blue lander · 25th September 2014, 05:49 PM

I agree it isn't very old but I doubt it was made for tourists. It seems well worn and appears to have been handled a lot over the years.

I think it may have recently spent some time in a damp basement or something. The blade had a lot of old deep black rust on it, but a lot of new red rust as well. And the leather scabbard feels brittle like it's been wet and dried out.

spiral · 25th September 2014, 09:44 PM

North west African swords & leather get to look very old very quickly..

Do you think locals will buy a sword even for dancing that doesn't cut? Why? there poor so you might as well have a sword that cuts.....

Tourism was common there from the early 70s....

But you pays your money & takes your choice,

In my collecting Id rather have 1 museum worthy,high quality very early or unusual historical piece than 15 bits of the lowest quality echelon , but that's just me, many collectors prefer to buy cheap & pile high... I guess its all good.

And there collections are much larger than mine!

I like cheap old poor condition genuine pieces for study, but cant comprehend why people want modern virtually non functional pieces? To my mind a sword should cut!

But that's just me , fool as I am...

spiral

24th September 2014, 04:35 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD OLDER EXAMPLE WITH ALL ITS PARTS THERE. IT DOES SHOW USE AND WEAR SO IT WAS USED AND BELONGED TO SOMEONE AND WAS NOT JUST COLLECTED NEW. I SUSPECT JUST ABOUT ANY STEEL WAS USED IN THAT COUNTRY SO A SAW IS POSSIBLE IF THE BLADE IS THIN AND FLEXIBLE LIKE A SAW BLADE. THE DECORATION ON THE SCABBARD MAY GIVE SOME IDEA AS TO THE SPECIFIC REGION AND TRIBE BUT IF IT DOES I DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO SAY.

24th September 2014, 05:45 PM	#2
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	Thanks. It is thin and flexible like a crosscut saw. The only unsaw-like thing about it is the fuller, but its so shallow it may have been added later. It has no edge though. It's almost as thick at the edge as it is at the spine.

24th September 2014, 08:24 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	WHEN FIREARMS REPLACED EDGED WEAPONS SOME SWORDS WERE STILL WORN. IN THE EARLY YEARS THEY WERE LIKELY STILL EDGED AND A GOOD BACK UP WEAPON BUT IN LATER YEARS PERHAPS BECAME A ITEM OF DRESS AND NOT A WEAPON. STILL A ETHNOGRAPHIC ITEM BUT NO LONGER A FUNCTIONING SWORD BUT JUST FOR SHOW, DANCE AND CEREMONY.

24th September 2014, 09:22 PM	#4
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	& to sell to those who travel for pleasure... Unsharpened isn't a good sign... Spiral

25th September 2014, 09:27 AM	#5
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	Most of the time they use springs of old trucks to do the blades. It is not an old sword. I will post later an old example with a military French blade of the end of 18th. Kubur

27th September 2014, 07:58 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Kubur, exquisite blade of late 18th into 19th c. with Cassignard (Nantes) style decorative motif. It is always outstanding to find these kinds of vintage blades in these Manding sabres, which indeed typically were examples of French origin. Gav, thank you for adding these exemplars from the spectrum of sources often providing material for blades and various sword components in these colonial areas. In native and frontier contexts, recycling was absolutely necessary when not simply convenient. Countless numbers of these old blades circulated through these regions for more generations than we can imagine.

25th September 2014, 12:38 PM	#8
Kubur Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 2,145	It is not mine but it will give you a good idea of an old one http://www.ebay.com/itm/120663514173

25th September 2014, 05:49 PM	#9
blue lander Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 456	I agree it isn't very old but I doubt it was made for tourists. It seems well worn and appears to have been handled a lot over the years. I think it may have recently spent some time in a damp basement or something. The blade had a lot of old deep black rust on it, but a lot of new red rust as well. And the leather scabbard feels brittle like it's been wet and dried out.

25th September 2014, 09:44 PM	#10
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	North west African swords & leather get to look very old very quickly.. Do you think locals will buy a sword even for dancing that doesn't cut? Why? there poor so you might as well have a sword that cuts..... Tourism was common there from the early 70s.... But you pays your money & takes your choice, In my collecting Id rather have 1 museum worthy,high quality very early or unusual historical piece than 15 bits of the lowest quality echelon , but that's just me, many collectors prefer to buy cheap & pile high... I guess its all good. And there collections are much larger than mine! I like cheap old poor condition genuine pieces for study, but cant comprehend why people want modern virtually non functional pieces? To my mind a sword should cut! But that's just me , fool as I am... spiral