Dahomey cutlass ?

colin henshaw · 18th August 2009, 11:24 AM

Hi

Many thanks for the comments on this piece so far. To address the points raised :-

The blade on Tim's sword certainly bears a strong similarity to that on mine. But does the handle on Tim's have an Indian look to the decoration ?

The blade on my piece is quite sharp. I will clean off the rust in the near future.

There was a Tibetan sword in the group of weapons I bought, it also has a shark/ray skin handle which bears a superficial resemblance to the handle on this cutlass.

Interestingly, I have just read in a tribal magazine, that the shark was the symbol of Behanzin, last king of Dahomey.

I am quite interested in the weapons of the forest kingdoms of West Africa - has anyone seen one of those oversize razors supposedly used by the famous Dahomey "Amazons" ?

Please keep the views coming on this.

Regards
Colin

katana · 18th August 2009, 12:18 PM

Hi Colin,
very nice piece

, below is a portrait of an Amazon ...notice the pommel hilt of the sword in the waist band is similar.....not to clear but there seems to be studs in the handle as well......

You are also correct in the 'symbolism' of the shark during the reign of Behanzin (as was the egg and a 'hanging man').
I believe the picture of this Amazon was taken during Behanzin's reign. However Agoli-agbo is considered to have been the twelfth, and last, King of Dahomey. He took the throne after the previous king, Behanzin, went into exile after a failed war with France. He was in power from 1894 to 1900.

All the best
David

Tim Simmons · 18th August 2009, 03:37 PM

I can see no reason why it is not West African. The only thing remotely Asian is the shark skin to me. The handle of mine did at one time have a brass wire running in the groove spiraling around the handle , you can see in the picture where the remains of this wire is. I did believe this was Dahomey but I have reason to believe it is from else where perhaps Ivory Coast. The projections /guard I have seen on another members African knife but sadly this knife has not been shown again and was not uploaded using this web site system.

I would not hold much store in the fact that you cannot find a picture of the very same example.

These pictures are from- C. Spring African Arms & Armour - always a pretty good starting point. As you can see these thing varry slightly. Also my Gubasa which is from Dahomy. This has an edge, the concave curve, but realisticly no way a fighting weapon.

Most of all I think you have a really super thing.

18th August 2009, 12:18 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Colin, very nice piece , below is a portrait of an Amazon ...notice the pommel hilt of the sword in the waist band is similar.....not to clear but there seems to be studs in the handle as well...... You are also correct in the 'symbolism' of the shark during the reign of Behanzin (as was the egg and a 'hanging man'). I believe the picture of this Amazon was taken during Behanzin's reign. However Agoli-agbo is considered to have been the twelfth, and last, King of Dahomey. He took the throne after the previous king, Behanzin, went into exile after a failed war with France. He was in power from 1894 to 1900. All the best David Attached Images

18th August 2009, 03:37 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,924	I can see no reason why it is not West African. The only thing remotely Asian is the shark skin to me. The handle of mine did at one time have a brass wire running in the groove spiraling around the handle , you can see in the picture where the remains of this wire is. I did believe this was Dahomey but I have reason to believe it is from else where perhaps Ivory Coast. The projections /guard I have seen on another members African knife but sadly this knife has not been shown again and was not uploaded using this web site system. I would not hold much store in the fact that you cannot find a picture of the very same example. These pictures are from- C. Spring African Arms & Armour - always a pretty good starting point. As you can see these thing varry slightly. Also my Gubasa which is from Dahomy. This has an edge, the concave curve, but realisticly no way a fighting weapon. Most of all I think you have a really super thing. Attached Images

18th August 2009, 11:24 AM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Hi Many thanks for the comments on this piece so far. To address the points raised :- The blade on Tim's sword certainly bears a strong similarity to that on mine. But does the handle on Tim's have an Indian look to the decoration ? The blade on my piece is quite sharp. I will clean off the rust in the near future. There was a Tibetan sword in the group of weapons I bought, it also has a shark/ray skin handle which bears a superficial resemblance to the handle on this cutlass. Interestingly, I have just read in a tribal magazine, that the shark was the symbol of Behanzin, last king of Dahomey. I am quite interested in the weapons of the forest kingdoms of West Africa - has anyone seen one of those oversize razors supposedly used by the famous Dahomey "Amazons" ? Please keep the views coming on this. Regards Colin