Nice African Dagger on EBay

Lew · 25th July 2011, 12:02 AM

Just picked this up today thinking it's Tetela ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...T#ht_500wt_922

ericlaude · 25th July 2011, 12:43 AM

Yes, Law, sure it's Tetela.

Battara · 25th July 2011, 02:24 AM

What an interesting piece. Looks like good workmanship too.

Robert · 25th July 2011, 03:31 AM

Great looking dagger lew.

Looks like the hilt could be copper over wood. I hope you don't mind my up-loading the auction pictures here for later reference.

Robert

Lew · 25th July 2011, 04:57 AM

Thanks Robert for posting the pics. Seems my iPad can't or won't upload photos like my PC can for some reason? You are correct the sheathing is copper and the dagger looks to be of a finer quality and quite complete

Wonder if these daggers ever had scabbards?

Robert · 25th July 2011, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Thanks Robert for posting the pics.

No problem Lew. As for whether or not this originally had a sheath I really have no idea but, if it were mine I would not want to hide such a blade and would wear it tuck through a sash or belt for everyone to see.

Great score and a beautiful addition to your collection.

Robert

Tim Simmons · 25th July 2011, 07:25 PM

Very nice.

katana · 26th July 2011, 02:48 AM

Lew is the spike pommel solid copper or wood sheathed in copper plate ? I'm wondering whether the spike was used to attack, in addition to the blade. It's almost a stabbing spear in smaller form.

All the best
David

Lew · 26th July 2011, 04:10 AM

Wood sheathed in copper. Still quite deadly at either end

.

Ferguson · 26th July 2011, 09:59 AM

That's stunning. Congrats!
Steve

Martin Lubojacky · 26th July 2011, 11:58 AM

Congratulations

Lew · 27th July 2011, 05:19 PM

Hi all

Thanks for responding I did some research and found the name of the dagger. It is called a balingbwa from the Tetela tribe. Should be here in a few days.

25th July 2011, 12:02 AM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Nice African Dagger on EBay Just picked this up today thinking it's Tetela ? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...T#ht_500wt_922

25th July 2011, 03:31 AM	#4
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Great looking dagger lew. Looks like the hilt could be copper over wood. I hope you don't mind my up-loading the auction pictures here for later reference. Robert Attached Images Last edited by Lew; 25th July 2011 at 04:56 AM.

25th July 2011, 12:43 AM	#2
ericlaude Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 187	Yes, Law, sure it's Tetela.

25th July 2011, 02:24 AM	#3
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	What an interesting piece. Looks like good workmanship too.

25th July 2011, 04:57 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Thanks Robert for posting the pics. Seems my iPad can't or won't upload photos like my PC can for some reason? You are correct the sheathing is copper and the dagger looks to be of a finer quality and quite complete Wonder if these daggers ever had scabbards?

25th July 2011, 07:25 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Very nice.

26th July 2011, 02:48 AM	#8
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Lew is the spike pommel solid copper or wood sheathed in copper plate ? I'm wondering whether the spike was used to attack, in addition to the blade. It's almost a stabbing spear in smaller form. All the best David

26th July 2011, 04:10 AM	#9
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Wood sheathed in copper. Still quite deadly at either end .

26th July 2011, 09:59 AM	#10
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	That's stunning. Congrats! Steve

26th July 2011, 11:58 AM	#11
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 836	Congratulations

27th July 2011, 05:19 PM	#12
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi all Thanks for responding I did some research and found the name of the dagger. It is called a balingbwa from the Tetela tribe. Should be here in a few days.