Dahomey cutlass ?

[Jim McDougall]

I have really enjoyed spending some time with this, thank you again for posting this Colin! As I was checking possibilities for Tibet/Asia I think I saw where you might have seen the splayed fishtail effect, perhaps in Rawson (?) on p.38, silhouettes of viragal (hero-stone) weapons of c.10th c. reflect this feature, possibly ancestors of the kora (?).

Excellent observations David, and great illustrations with well placed thoughts Freddy. It almost seems that some of the motif and the splayed tip do bear similarity to this piece, illustrating some commonality in symbolism.

I believe that this is actually a weapon rather than symbolic item, as I am under the impression the blade is iron rather than yellow metal, also the hafting and grips reflect intention of use. Also, excellent observations on the shark being one of the symbols of Behanzin, in power up to 1900, and it would seem that is likely the period of this sword.

It is clear that symbolism is obviously powerfully represented in even the servicable weapons of these warriors, as well as the more elaborate court and ceremonial forms. The use of animist type symbols as a form of symbolic insignia is well described in "This West African Prussia: The Dahomean Army 1840's to 90's" by Andrew Callan (Military Illustrated, Nov. 1990, #30).
The use of the crocodile, shark and others appear on headwear, such as 'bayoneteer women'..the officers wore red caps with silver sharks (ref: Burton, 1864) and the 'blunderbuss women' wore red caps with white fishes (ref: Skertchly, 1874).

Sir Richard Burton, "A Mission to Gelele: King of Dahomey", London, 1864

J.A.Skertchley , "Dahomey as it is", London, 1874

Concerning the razors, there is no mention of these in the Callan article, but Burton describes them in his 1864 work. He had been sent to Dahomey as amabassador to protest the 'customs', which was the wholesale slaughter of individuals in rituals as well as the ongoing practice of slavery. He went there on the HMS Antelope landing at Whydah (interestingly the name of a well known pirate ship well over a century before) Nov 29, 1863.

Burton describes Gezo, the reigning king, and his love of unusual weaponry, noting some with dual blades, like scissors and most notably, his company of Amazons called razor women, from the 'nyek ple nentoh' blade. These women were equipped with "...a steel of 30" rising from a handle of black wood, and kept open by a spring". (Burton, "Book of the Sword" 1884, pp.167-69).
Burton compares these to a 'European razor', which implies something like a huge navaja.
From this king's love of novelty type weapons, I am under the impression he was trying to impress Burton, and perhaps these were produced specifically for this visit, which must have been preplanned, just my opinion, and perhaps why none of these are known to the best of my knowledge.

Returning to our sword, I cannot say for sure, but this looks like rayskin, and very similar to that used on British and many European officers swords. I would suggest that in this later period, around the turn of the century, the use of the rayskin grip covering may well have been used off one of these military swords. If the motif of the shark was intended, this grip cover, which we know was certainly available, would have served well for such a sword for an officer of the kings forces.

Just my thoughts,
All best regards,
Jim

[VANDOO]

JUST A OBSERVATION BUT SOME OF THESE SWORDS BLADES ARE MADE SIMULAR TO A STRAIGHT RAZOR BLADE. THE RAZOR BLADE STARTS WITH A PIECE OF RETANGULAR METAL RUNNING FROM THE FORTE TO WHERE THE BLADE SHAPE AND EDGE STARTS. PERHAPS SOMEONE SAW THIS AND NOT KNOWING OR CARING WHAT THE LOCAL NAME WAS WROTE DOWN THAT AMAZONS CARRIED GIANT STRAIGHT RAZORS. IS THERE ANY WRITTEN REFERENCE NOTEING THESE THINGS FOLDED OR HAD A BLUNT TIP?

SO YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE AN AMAZONS RAZOR AND I AM SURE SHE COULD GIVE YOU A CLOSE SHAVE WITH ONE LIKE YOURS.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Barry,
Burton, "Book of the Sword" (1884, p.167-69)...a steel of 30" rising from a handle of black wood, and kept open by a spring....compared it to a European razor.
Excellent observation on the shape though!! It seems like these 'razors' must have been like huge navajas (actually this was how navajas began, with barbers).

All the best,
Jim

[katana]

I could find little about the Dahomey razor.....in English. As the French had several wars with the Kingdom....I used 'lateral thinking' and googled French equivalent words ie "armee amazone dahomey rasoir"....definately more info....some links are to Google books which are unfortunately in PDF format ...which cannot be translated via Babelfish.

Interestingly there was a seperate 'division' of the Dahomey which specifically used the 'razor' called the Nyekplonentos, also noted is the fact that these were not used against the French as they were not stragectically 'useful'. It would appear that the increased useage of firearms etc saw the demised of the razor....perhaps this is why there are very few, if any surviving today. (often imported Euro blades were usually re-worked by the 'smiths'...it makes sense that 'razor' blades were re-cycled to produce other swords / knives).

Below is some translations via Babelfish....


".....These great razors that can be far wrong to think used by European farmers have been described by mayor as weapons specific to women's regiments, "The Cloucloucaccala" [13]. Father Father Bouche citing this Borghero in 1861 to a military review in Abomey, describes these regiments that Europeans call "Amazons" in reference to ancient Greece: "Over three thousand women, two hundred, instead of rifles, are equipped with large knives in the shape of razors, which handle with both hands, and including a single slice a man in the middle. " Borghero even specifies that it is a "huge knife-shaped blades that can be opened and closed, the race almost a meter long and the blade all" [14]. For other authors, male regiments are also razor. Mayor describes such regiments of men created by King Glélé whose name, Niegpley, would mean "(company) by the razor sharp" [15].
The knives are reworked, they are the swords or razors. Blacksmiths fon - very popular - to adapt the material needs and tastes of their customers: They change the blades and handles supplied by the manufacturers or just the blades, when the metal comes from sales or exchanges of raw bars.
Here the imported material may be modified. The assimilation of knowledge of use is coupled with local know-how of transformation. ....."

http://motspluriels.arts.uwa.edu.au/MP1600mb.html


"......The Nyekplonentos or "mowers" are equipped with large knives in the shape of a razor and slice the enemy in two......."

http://www.maisons-champagne.com/bon...l_dahomey.html

Regards David