Two similar Congo swords to identify

Pieje · 9th April 2012, 06:27 PM

Hello,

I'm new on this forum as I recently obtained parts of an old collection with several swords from Congo. I managed to identify several by using relevant literature. If you guys are interested, I'll try to post some of them in the near future.
I couldn't find any info about these two swords...they are very identical.

Thanks!

Lew · 10th April 2012, 12:42 PM

Interesting piece. It seems to have a Boa style blade with a Saka hilt?

Freddy · 10th April 2012, 08:58 PM

Hi and welcome to this forum.

I once had a similar piece in my collection. I identified it as : Lokele, So, Topoke.

I still has some pics of this piece. It was a spearpoint made into a sword.

Freddy · 10th April 2012, 09:01 PM

In the book 'Seltene Afrikanische Waffen' (Rare African Short Weapons) by Manfred A. Zirngibl (1983), 2 similar pieces are shown on page 40.

Pieje · 10th April 2012, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

In the book 'Seltene Afrikanische Waffen' (Rare African Short Weapons) by Manfred A. Zirngibl (1983), 2 similar pieces are shown on page 40.

I checked this reference: the braided cord covering of the hilt ("typical of the Ngbandi") is identical to the one on figure 36 ("Lokele"). Also the engravings on the blade, especially at the beginning, correspond almost perfectly ("Zande region").
Both these swords look very old to me.
Thanks!

Pieje · 11th April 2012, 10:32 PM

Another of my Congo swords, Poto type I guess.
Not in very good shape, but nice though.

Freddy · 12th April 2012, 10:08 AM

Nothing wrong with this Poto, in my opinion. Good engravings and fetish bundle (the hair has perhaps gone, but I have the same problem

)

Perhaps I bit of cleaning would help.

9th April 2012, 06:27 PM	#1
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	Two similar Congo swords to identify Hello, I'm new on this forum as I recently obtained parts of an old collection with several swords from Congo. I managed to identify several by using relevant literature. If you guys are interested, I'll try to post some of them in the near future. I couldn't find any info about these two swords...they are very identical. Thanks! Attached Images

10th April 2012, 08:58 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nice pieces ! Hi and welcome to this forum. I once had a similar piece in my collection. I identified it as : Lokele, So, Topoke. I still has some pics of this piece. It was a spearpoint made into a sword. Attached Images

11th April 2012, 10:32 PM	#6
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	Another of my Congo swords, Poto type I guess. Not in very good shape, but nice though. Attached Images

10th April 2012, 12:42 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Interesting piece. It seems to have a Boa style blade with a Saka hilt?

10th April 2012, 09:01 PM	#4
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	In the book 'Seltene Afrikanische Waffen' (Rare African Short Weapons) by Manfred A. Zirngibl (1983), 2 similar pieces are shown on page 40.

12th April 2012, 10:08 AM	#7
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nothing wrong with this Poto, in my opinion. Good engravings and fetish bundle (the hair has perhaps gone, but I have the same problem ) Perhaps I bit of cleaning would help.