Masai Spear and Sword

[colin henshaw]

As far as I know, the seme blade being hand-forged with a mid-rib, is not in itself an indicator of age. Flat sheet steel blades for semes, pangas etc have been in use for quite a long time. I saw myself the Masai in Kenya carrying spears, bows & arrows etc., when guarding their cattle in the late 1970s early 1980s. Probably they still do. They are also made for the tourist trade.

I remember seeing Masai men buying new spear points and shoes (hand-forged) from a small Indian duka (shop) !

I am judging the items from their whole appearance when assigning a date range, but could be wrong of course...

Regards.

[Tim Simmons]

The 19th and early 20th century spear blade are quite distinctive. You will know one when you see it and grab it. I am of the opinion that there are possibly 3 stages in seme form. The earliest are long and thin with a good temper and forging, can be used in a fast manner. Then I think they remained long and got quite a bit heavier. Perhaps slightly clumsy forging relying more on force of weight. Then finally the size of seme we see today. which can be short sword to large knife size again I think the early versions are forged and superseded by reground machete blades. This is just my " opinion" from collecting observation and handling examples.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

The 19th and early 20th century spear blade are quite distinctive. You will know one when you see it and grab it. I am of the opinion that there are possibly 3 stages in seme form. The earliest are long and thin with a good temper and forging, can be used in a fast manner. Then I think they remained long and got quite a bit heavier. Perhaps slightly clumsy forging relying more on force of weight. Then finally the size of seme we see today. which can be short sword to large knife size again I think the early versions are forged and superseded by reground machete blades. This is just my " opinion" from collecting observation and handling examples.

Thank you for your reply Tim, I agree with you regarding the early form of the Seme and much more elegant than the later forms. Our local museum had a beautiful example many years ago when as a child of about 8 yrs old I used to visit two or three times a week. It contained all manner of weapons and artefacts and was like an Aladdin's cave to me and my friends and was one of the reasons for my interest in Ethnographic arms artefacts. I missed my opportunity about 30 years ago at an arms fair when I rejected one I spotted on a stand due to it being stuck in its scabbard.

Your opinion of them having 3 stages in their form is interesting and plausible I think. Thanks again.
Miguel

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

The 19th and early 20th century spear blade are quite distinctive. You will know one when you see it and grab it. I am of the opinion that there are possibly 3 stages in seme form. The earliest are long and thin with a good temper and forging, can be used in a fast manner. Then I think they remained long and got quite a bit heavier. Perhaps slightly clumsy forging relying more on force of weight. Then finally the size of seme we see today. which can be short sword to large knife size again I think the early versions are forged and superseded by reground machete blades. This is just my " opinion" from collecting observation and handling examples.

Exactly my thoughts as well!

[colin henshaw]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

The 19th and early 20th century spear blade are quite distinctive. You will know one when you see it and grab it. I am of the opinion that there are possibly 3 stages in seme form. The earliest are long and thin with a good temper and forging, can be used in a fast manner. Then I think they remained long and got quite a bit heavier. Perhaps slightly clumsy forging relying more on force of weight. Then finally the size of seme we see today. which can be short sword to large knife size again I think the early versions are forged and superseded by reground machete blades. This is just my " opinion" from collecting observation and handling examples.

I would say this is a fairly accurate synopsis, with the following exceptions :-

1. Early East African native spears and swords were not tempered, they were quite soft and could sometimes be bent in the hand. Smelted from local iron ore. There are old pictures of Masai lion hunts with the spears well bent.

2. The use of machete blades etc did not completely replace semes being forged from scrap iron with mid-ribs. I have seen many similar new(ish) examples like that posted by Miguel. There is no shortage of scrap metal in Kenya. Its also important to remember that Kenya in particular has been producing large numbers of these sort of objects for the tourist trade for many decades now.

[Miguel]

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

As far as I know, the seme blade being hand-forged with a mid-rib, is not in itself an indicator of age. Flat sheet steel blades for semes, pangas etc have been in use for quite a long time. I saw myself the Masai in Kenya carrying spears, bows & arrows etc., when guarding their cattle in the late 1970s early 1980s. Probably they still do. They are also made for the tourist trade.

I remember seeing Masai men buying new spear points and shoes (hand-forged) from a small Indian duka (shop) !

I am judging the items from their whole appearance when assigning a date range, but could be wrong of course...

Regards.

Thanks Colin for your interesting comments and I now have a feeling that your suggested dating is probably not far off the mark.
Miguel