An Old Masai Seme....I'm not so certain

colin henshaw · 25th September 2008, 08:12 PM

Hi David

This type of sword was used by very many tribes and tribal groupings throughout Eastern Africa - very difficult to place exactly without some provenance or collection data. Chris Peers' book "Armies of the Nineteenth Century: Africa", has some good drawings... Looks an old piece to me, but the wire wrapped bit to the handle doesn't seem right, I suspect there was a wooden finial to the handle there originally that had become damaged, and the wire is a later replacement covering.

Regret I cannot be more specific. Regards, Colin

Tim Simmons · 25th September 2008, 08:28 PM

Looking at this closely I am begining to think that the wire may well be original to the making of this piece. As Colin says East Africa is a vast land and artifacts morph over distance. It is not unusual to see the utilisation of European materials to finish objects of all sorts. I assume the wire is sleaved in a form of plastic? The type will help age the piece? I would suggest this is something from the 1930s as RomaRana has already stated. The wire coming from a viechle or some other European manufacture.

katana · 26th September 2008, 12:57 AM

Hi Colin and Tim

,
thank you for your input, the braided wire maybe plastic coated, (looking through a magnifying glass) but of a type that looks 'antiquated' ....if that makes sense ...ie not a modern polymer. But, I feel the handle is foreign to the original blade, the tang being exposed suggests that this was a later repair. The 'patina' of the blade does suggest some age, older, I think, than the 'wire wrap'. I believe had the scabbard been available it would help to ID it's origins more accurately....but am happy to think that this is late 19th C to early 20th C, 'locally' forged in or around East Africa (

) .
It is very nicely forged, has good temper and is, I think, a nice example of an 'older' seme... certainly a weapon ... shame about the fact there is no scabbard...but I am happy , never the less

Regards David

25th September 2008, 08:28 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Looking at this closely I am begining to think that the wire may well be original to the making of this piece. As Colin says East Africa is a vast land and artifacts morph over distance. It is not unusual to see the utilisation of European materials to finish objects of all sorts. I assume the wire is sleaved in a form of plastic? The type will help age the piece? I would suggest this is something from the 1930s as RomaRana has already stated. The wire coming from a viechle or some other European manufacture. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 25th September 2008 at 08:33 PM. Reason: spelling spelling!!

25th September 2008, 08:12 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Hi David This type of sword was used by very many tribes and tribal groupings throughout Eastern Africa - very difficult to place exactly without some provenance or collection data. Chris Peers' book "Armies of the Nineteenth Century: Africa", has some good drawings... Looks an old piece to me, but the wire wrapped bit to the handle doesn't seem right, I suspect there was a wooden finial to the handle there originally that had become damaged, and the wire is a later replacement covering. Regret I cannot be more specific. Regards, Colin

26th September 2008, 12:57 AM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Colin and Tim , thank you for your input, the braided wire maybe plastic coated, (looking through a magnifying glass) but of a type that looks 'antiquated' ....if that makes sense ...ie not a modern polymer. But, I feel the handle is foreign to the original blade, the tang being exposed suggests that this was a later repair. The 'patina' of the blade does suggest some age, older, I think, than the 'wire wrap'. I believe had the scabbard been available it would help to ID it's origins more accurately....but am happy to think that this is late 19th C to early 20th C, 'locally' forged in or around East Africa ( ) . It is very nicely forged, has good temper and is, I think, a nice example of an 'older' seme... certainly a weapon ... shame about the fact there is no scabbard...but I am happy , never the less Regards David