Tebu Sword

Martin Lubojacky · 21st November 2016, 03:57 PM

Teodor,
Yes, that sword from Kano had also "Tebu style pommel". Really very heavy sword. The cross-section was nicely lenticular (not rhombic like in your sword). I still have it, and once, whent there is time, I would like to arrange some chemical analysis to determine its age (if such analysis of iron exists - I don´t know...). I do not think it is too much old, but the blade started to exfoliate long time ago. (The whole shape of that sword reminds me gladius. Maybe it is fantasy, maybe not, maybe there was some old influence. The truth is that the Romans fought Garamants and Limes Tripolitanus was relatively deep to the south (through Ghadames etc).

But back to your sword: It is nice, both the blade and knitting on the handle are nicely preserved. I may be wrong, but I think this "knitted" handles may be older than the simpliest styles. But I would not determine the age. I think, in this cases of Tebu knives and swords it is not easy. I think they have been produced in unchanged way for very long time, till, probably, present.

I do not know, if Tebu and Daza trevelled so much, nevertheless one can buy reletively old (I mean not touristic) pieces of these Tebu style daggers from Addis Abeba, through e.g. Tunis and Tripolis till Abuja. And sure, they were spread by land travelling (which is, within the area mentioned above, not easy - even now). The pommel could differ - could be crude, could be spiky, rounded. could have welt or not ... Just collecting only this Tebbu style could be interesting collecting branch..
Regards,
Martin

21st November 2016, 03:57 PM	#8
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Teodor, Yes, that sword from Kano had also "Tebu style pommel". Really very heavy sword. The cross-section was nicely lenticular (not rhombic like in your sword). I still have it, and once, whent there is time, I would like to arrange some chemical analysis to determine its age (if such analysis of iron exists - I don´t know...). I do not think it is too much old, but the blade started to exfoliate long time ago. (The whole shape of that sword reminds me gladius. Maybe it is fantasy, maybe not, maybe there was some old influence. The truth is that the Romans fought Garamants and Limes Tripolitanus was relatively deep to the south (through Ghadames etc). But back to your sword: It is nice, both the blade and knitting on the handle are nicely preserved. I may be wrong, but I think this "knitted" handles may be older than the simpliest styles. But I would not determine the age. I think, in this cases of Tebu knives and swords it is not easy. I think they have been produced in unchanged way for very long time, till, probably, present. I do not know, if Tebu and Daza trevelled so much, nevertheless one can buy reletively old (I mean not touristic) pieces of these Tebu style daggers from Addis Abeba, through e.g. Tunis and Tripolis till Abuja. And sure, they were spread by land travelling (which is, within the area mentioned above, not easy - even now). The pommel could differ - could be crude, could be spiky, rounded. could have welt or not ... Just collecting only this Tebbu style could be interesting collecting branch.. Regards, Martin