African Knife/Sword With Copper Wire Work

Robert · 26th February 2010, 02:00 AM

Hello everyone. Here are the pictures that I promised. The knife does have some damage to the wire work that should not be too difficult to repair. One of the horns on the scabbard is also partially broken and will require a little more effort in its repair. The pictures are of the knife as it arrived without anything being done to it at all. Very nicely decorated blade. The hilt on the knife is bound in some form of reptile skin (the scales are quite obvious) and then the wire. The wooden scabbard is also covered in skin of undetermined origin and then wire. I could not get a decent picture of the hilt that would show the scales though but will try again tomorrow. It looks to me that the blade had been stored in the scabbard and had become stuck from the shrinkage to the wood and skin and the damage was probably caused when the owner tried to forcibly remove it.

I would appreciate your comments and advice on what to do as far as restoration goes, or anything else for that matter. If anyone would like a picture of any particular area of the knife or scabbard just ask. Thank you for your help.

Robert

p.s.
Picture of skin on hilt added.

Tim Simmons · 26th February 2010, 06:28 PM

Really super! If it were mine I would just rub the copper as Luc says perhaps a drop of oil on the cloth. I would clean the blade to what suits my eye and sort out that curl at one of the spiky bits neat the handle. Great find.

Robert · 27th February 2010, 12:24 AM

Hello Tim,
I think that I will very carefully do just that. I also think that I will use a couple of drops of super glue to secure the one partially broken horn on the scabbard. What has me worried the most is the amount of shrinkage that there is in the wood and hide covering under the copper wire. They have both shrunken to the point that the wire is extremely loose and moves around with the slightest touch. The blade can be easily cleaned up just enough to show the decoration better and then ren-waxed for protection. The wire on the knife should also tidy up easily, I hope.

Thank you all again for your help and interest in this.

Robert

Robert · 18th March 2010, 12:32 AM

After a light cleaning and a little tidying up. Didn't want to over do this so I will probably stop at this.

Robert

Flavio · 18th March 2010, 10:15 AM

Well done

Really a very nice piece! Congrats

Freddy · 18th March 2010, 11:17 AM

Great job ! Could go right into a museum !

Lew · 18th March 2010, 04:06 PM

Nice job.

Lew

26th February 2010, 02:00 AM	#1
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello everyone. Here are the pictures that I promised. The knife does have some damage to the wire work that should not be too difficult to repair. One of the horns on the scabbard is also partially broken and will require a little more effort in its repair. The pictures are of the knife as it arrived without anything being done to it at all. Very nicely decorated blade. The hilt on the knife is bound in some form of reptile skin (the scales are quite obvious) and then the wire. The wooden scabbard is also covered in skin of undetermined origin and then wire. I could not get a decent picture of the hilt that would show the scales though but will try again tomorrow. It looks to me that the blade had been stored in the scabbard and had become stuck from the shrinkage to the wood and skin and the damage was probably caused when the owner tried to forcibly remove it. I would appreciate your comments and advice on what to do as far as restoration goes, or anything else for that matter. If anyone would like a picture of any particular area of the knife or scabbard just ask. Thank you for your help. Robert p.s. Picture of skin on hilt added. Attached Images Last edited by Robert Coleman; 26th February 2010 at 03:22 AM.

18th March 2010, 12:32 AM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	After a light cleaning and a little tidying up. Didn't want to over do this so I will probably stop at this. Robert Attached Images

26th February 2010, 06:28 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Really super! If it were mine I would just rub the copper as Luc says perhaps a drop of oil on the cloth. I would clean the blade to what suits my eye and sort out that curl at one of the spiky bits neat the handle. Great find.

27th February 2010, 12:24 AM	#3
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Tim, I think that I will very carefully do just that. I also think that I will use a couple of drops of super glue to secure the one partially broken horn on the scabbard. What has me worried the most is the amount of shrinkage that there is in the wood and hide covering under the copper wire. They have both shrunken to the point that the wire is extremely loose and moves around with the slightest touch. The blade can be easily cleaned up just enough to show the decoration better and then ren-waxed for protection. The wire on the knife should also tidy up easily, I hope. Thank you all again for your help and interest in this. Robert

18th March 2010, 10:15 AM	#5
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Well done Really a very nice piece! Congrats

18th March 2010, 11:17 AM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Great job ! Could go right into a museum !

18th March 2010, 04:06 PM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Nice job. Lew