Dahomey Hwi

[Kubur]

Hi Miguel,
It's a super cool stuff!
You have a converted French briquet, infantry short sword.
Now i don't know if it's a late 18th or 19th c. model.
The other members will tell you.
But you have the infantry unit engraved on the guard, so basically you will trace the whole history of this sword!
Congratulations
Kubur

[Battara]

What an interesting piece. Thanks for posting this.

[Jim McDougall]

A truly amazing hybrid Miguel, thank you for bringing it in here!

It has been a long time since we have discussed these Dahomean hwi it seems, and for those interested in further reading on them, Christopher Spring in "African Arms and Armour" has a good section about them.
He uses plates and data from "Sabres Decores du Dahomey"
Montserrat Palau Marti
Objets et Mondes, VII:4, 1967
These fascinating ceremonial blades on these hwi reflect the tribal animist traditions and often facets of the West African Vodun religion.

This does appear to be a French briquette sword as noted by Kubur, and these were around latter 18th century, well into the 19th. They were replaced my a gladius type sword M1831 but both seem concurrent in 1830s.
The hilt on this one seems likely 2nd Empire c.1854+
While the French did not colonize Dahomey until 1872, I have researched hwi which were collected there c 1856 by French officers.

Fascinating example reflecting the Dahoman traditions coupled with French colonial situations, and great historical possibilities,

[Martin Lubojacky]

As Jim already said: Fascinating example.
Congratulations
Martin

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Martin Lubojacky

As Jim already said: Fascinating example.
Congratulations
Martin

Hi Martin,
Thanks for your interest.
Regards
Miguel

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

A truly amazing hybrid Miguel, thank you for bringing it in here!

It has been a long time since we have discussed these Dahomean hwi it seems, and for those interested in further reading on them, Christopher Spring in "African Arms and Armour" has a good section about them.
He uses plates and data from "Sabres Decores du Dahomey"
Montserrat Palau Marti
Objets et Mondes, VII:4, 1967
These fascinating ceremonial blades on these hwi reflect the tribal animist traditions and often facets of the West African Vodun religion.

This does appear to be a French briquette sword as noted by Kubur, and these were around latter 18th century, well into the 19th. They were replaced my a gladius type sword M1831 but both seem concurrent in 1830s.
The hilt on this one seems likely 2nd Empire c.1854+
While the French did not colonize Dahomey until 1872, I have researched hwi which were collected there c 1856 by French officers.

Fascinating example reflecting the Dahoman traditions coupled with French colonial situations, and great historical possibilities,

Hi Jim,
I am really pleased that you like it. I have a copy of Christopher Stone`s book, in fact his article was what lead me to believing it was a Hwi, further research led me to thinking it was made from a French sabre but I have not yet been able to discover which dignitary carried it and what office, if any, did it represent, military or civil, still a lot of work to do. Thanks again for your comments.
Regards
Miguel

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Battara

What an interesting piece. Thanks for posting this.

Hi Battara,

You are very welcome.
Regards
Miguel

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi Miguel,
It's a super cool stuff!
You have a converted French briquet, infantry short sword.
Now i don't know if it's a late 18th or 19th c. model.
The other members will tell you.
But you have the infantry unit engraved on the guard, so basically you will trace the whole history of this sword!
Congratulations
Kubur

Hi Kubur,

Thanks for the info, can you suggest to me the best place to start trying to track down the history of this sabre.
Many thanks
Miguel

[Kubur]

Originally Posted by Miguel

Hi Kubur,

Thanks for the info, can you suggest to me the best place to start trying to track down the history of this sabre.
Many thanks
Miguel

Hi Miguel,
I suggest to see the Briquet model 1856-57, used by the "tirailleurs senegalais".
They were not only from Senegal but from all West Africa.
I guess one of them bring it back to Dahomey.
Have you seen that they cut one branch of the guard?
Best,
Kubur

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Kubur

Hi Miguel,
I suggest to see the Briquet model 1856-57, used by the "tirailleurs senegalais".
They were not only from Senegal but from all West Africa.
I guess one of them bring it back to Dahomey.
Have you seen that they cut one branch of the guard?
Best,
Kubur

Hi Kubur,

Thanks for your suggestion, an interesting theory. I had noted that they had removed the knuckle guard, I think that this was to provide a balance wit the down turned quillon.
Regards
Miguel