Lew Waldman's Ethnographic Arms & Armour Collection Archive


145 - African Nkundu/Lobala Chieftan's Sword

This form of status knife or short sword suggests an evolution from the Ngala execution swords. The grip of the wooden handle has been wrapped with copper strips. There is a crack in the well-patinated wood forming the pommel, but it appears to be old and is not distracting. The bifurcated blade appears to have been broken about 4½ inches from the hilt and repaired with brass brazing; increased corrosion is noted either side of this old appearing repair. Similar inscribed decorations are seen on either side of a blade that is sharp along the edges of the straight portion and around the convexities of the 'horns.' The blade is 16¼ inches in length and the overall length is 20 inches; weight is 20½ ounces. Lew dated this example to circa 1880-1890 and despite the damage it remains a nice example of the type.




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