Unusual sword

[Congoblades]

Another item in the african collection is not african, maiby there is a link with the sword? or maiby it has nothing to do with it , just wondering what the meaning of this spoon is, being in a collection between 70 other weapons and items who are typical Central Africa, exept for the sword ofcourse.

[katana]

I'm still fascinated by the waves in the blade....Rapier or sword stick...what is the function of these 'waves'.....does it cause a greater wound/damage or has it another purpose

[fernando]

Probably my last post on the Portuguese rapier length evolution was not so vital for the thread subject and therefore not so much considered, but still i ought to make a correction, as i have put it wrong somehow. The lengths i quoted from Mr. Rainer Daehnhardt's book, as also from another work by Eduardo Nobre As Armas e os Barões , for the legal and "off mark" rapiers, were those for the complete sword, and not for the blade alone, as i might have put it in some parts of my post.
My apologies for such lack of precision.
fernando

[fernando]

Hi Katana
The experts in the Forum should know a lot about this subject. I beleive the flaming blades have different reasons, depending on the purpose of the object. Probably only for symbolic and visual impact in non combat pieces. However those seen in action swords, the heavy stuff, are basicaly intended to offer a multiple cutting area. It should cut ( slash ) quicker and deeper. This looking to have some logic, is ( at least ) quoted in this nice book of the Portuguese arms evolution by Eduardo Nobre.
So far i find Congoblades piece a unique situtation, as i can not trace, neither in pictures nor in texts, a half waved blade. Certainly there is some material out there, waiting to be spoted. Till then, Rick's aproach on the halfswording hipothesis, prevails as best, i would say.
fernando