African Knife/Sword With Copper Wire Work

Robert · 21st February 2010, 02:05 PM

Sajen and Flavio,
Thank you both for your kind words. I am happy that this is not just tourist junk and turned out to be a good buy as I was very worried when no one else bid on it besides one other person who only bid the opening amount and myself. Do either of you have any idea of the age of this piece? Thank you both again.

Robert

katana · 21st February 2010, 02:19 PM

Hi Robert,
bargain buy

Congolese (most likely) the wire wrap looks recent....hopefully a recent repair and not an indication of recent manufacture, although the scabbard and blade seem to have some age... so 'repair' seems most likely.

Regards David

Robert · 21st February 2010, 02:38 PM

Hello David, and thank you for responding to this post. I believe the grip binding looks the way it does because the seller started to "clean" the item up before placing it up for auction.

Robert

Sajen · 21st February 2010, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Coleman

Sajen and Flavio,
Thank you both for your kind words. I am happy that this is not just tourist junk and turned out to be a good buy as I was very worried when no one else bid on it besides one other person who only bid the opening amount and myself. Do either of you have any idea of the age of this piece? Thank you both again.

Robert

No idea of age but when I look to the scabbard I think that the piece have a good age.

Lew · 21st February 2010, 03:43 PM

My guess it's one of these tribes Ngbandi, Yakoma, Sango?

Robert · 21st February 2010, 04:26 PM

Hello Lew,
Because of all the copper work my guess was also Ngbandi, but as I said earlier my knowledge of African weapons is VERY limited.

I will see what I can find on Yakoma and Sango weapons. Thank you for your help.

Robert

Tim Simmons · 21st February 2010, 04:55 PM

Very cool, more than makes up for the recent bad buy. You lucky chap.

Freddy · 21st February 2010, 06:21 PM

Yep, you hit the jackpot !

Here is a pic of a similar piece from the book 'Fatal Beauty - Traditional Weapons from Central Africa', Taiwan exhibition 2009

Robert · 21st February 2010, 06:53 PM

Tim and Freddy,
Thank you both for the pictures and kind words and yes, I do feel much better now after that horrible klewang incident.

Now I can't wait for it to get here. Still, would anyone care to offer a guess on the age of this piece?

I know with the terrible picture it would be hard if not impossible to be very accurate but just an idea would be nice. Thanks again.

Robert

21st February 2010, 04:55 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Very cool, more than makes up for the recent bad buy. You lucky chap. Attached Images

21st February 2010, 02:05 PM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Sajen and Flavio, Thank you both for your kind words. I am happy that this is not just tourist junk and turned out to be a good buy as I was very worried when no one else bid on it besides one other person who only bid the opening amount and myself. Do either of you have any idea of the age of this piece? Thank you both again. Robert

21st February 2010, 02:19 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Robert, bargain buy Congolese (most likely) the wire wrap looks recent....hopefully a recent repair and not an indication of recent manufacture, although the scabbard and blade seem to have some age... so 'repair' seems most likely. Regards David

21st February 2010, 02:38 PM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello David, and thank you for responding to this post. I believe the grip binding looks the way it does because the seller started to "clean" the item up before placing it up for auction. Robert

21st February 2010, 03:43 PM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	My guess it's one of these tribes Ngbandi, Yakoma, Sango?

21st February 2010, 04:26 PM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Lew, Because of all the copper work my guess was also Ngbandi, but as I said earlier my knowledge of African weapons is VERY limited. I will see what I can find on Yakoma and Sango weapons. Thank you for your help. Robert

21st February 2010, 06:21 PM	#8
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Yep, you hit the jackpot ! Here is a pic of a similar piece from the book 'Fatal Beauty - Traditional Weapons from Central Africa', Taiwan exhibition 2009

21st February 2010, 06:53 PM	#9
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Tim and Freddy, Thank you both for the pictures and kind words and yes, I do feel much better now after that horrible klewang incident. Now I can't wait for it to get here. Still, would anyone care to offer a guess on the age of this piece? I know with the terrible picture it would be hard if not impossible to be very accurate but just an idea would be nice. Thanks again. Robert