Maasai Seme

katana · 12th February 2007, 12:49 PM

Hi Emanuel,
I followed this and forgot to bid

.....but I am glad you got it

. I believe the diamond section blade would probably date this early to mid 20c. The hand forged blades with the median ridge AFAIK tend to be 19c to early 20c... and are increasingly harder to find. I think yours is a very nice Same....and at a very good price.....congrats

Emanuel · 12th February 2007, 05:06 PM

Thanks David,
I'm glad you didn't bid

From the old threads I understand this may be a later type of the old forged seme, so early 20th sounds right. It's close to 27" long so quite large, can't wait to receive it and swing it around. What I like about these weapons, and other African ones as well, is that they show th gradual transition from speartip to sword...quite fascinating.
I'll port more pics when I get it.
Best,
Emanuel

katana · 12th February 2007, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manolo

Thanks David,
I'm glad you didn't bid

.
Best,
Emanuel

I'M NOT......

Emanuel, I'm not certain...but I think the so called 'Lion spear' with the 'Same' type head were a late 19c/ early 20c 'addition'. I have always had the impression that the 'Same' pre-dated this type of spear.

Then again, I could be wrong ........so nothing new there then

Emanuel · 13th February 2007, 12:13 AM

Could be, David...I'll read up on it...can't wait to get it

asomotif · 16th February 2007, 01:05 PM

Dear all,

What do you think. Is this sword masai ?
I sold it some 2 years ago as masai although I was not sure at all as info was hard to find here.

Thanks and best regards,
Willem

Emanuel · 24th February 2007, 10:41 PM

Hello Willem,
Yours does look like a maasai seme...the handle is interesting though...have a look here : http://anthro.amnh.org/anthro.html in the Collections Database, then in the "African Ethnographic Collection" and search for maasai.

I just received mine, but the sword is really wedged in tightly in the scabbard. Are there any ways to loosen a scabbard? Would applying abundent oil do it?

Emanuel

Lew · 24th February 2007, 11:16 PM

Hi Willem

That is an older Massai war sword they have longer blades. Here are two from my collection. Btw your shield looks be from the Turkana tribe.

Lew

FenrisWolf · 24th February 2007, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asomotif

Dear all,

What do you think. Is this sword masai ?
I sold it some 2 years ago as masai although I was not sure at all as info was hard to find here.

Thanks and best regards,
Willem

What the heck is that monster behind the Seme? It looks like something out of one of those absurd Japanese Anime cartoons, where the warrior is swinging a six-foot slab of steel with one hand!

16th February 2007, 01:05 PM	#5
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,235	Dear all, What do you think. Is this sword masai ? I sold it some 2 years ago as masai although I was not sure at all as info was hard to find here. Thanks and best regards, Willem Attached Images

24th February 2007, 11:16 PM	#7
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Willem That is an older Massai war sword they have longer blades. Here are two from my collection. Btw your shield looks be from the Turkana tribe. Lew Attached Images

12th February 2007, 12:49 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Emanuel, I followed this and forgot to bid .....but I am glad you got it . I believe the diamond section blade would probably date this early to mid 20c. The hand forged blades with the median ridge AFAIK tend to be 19c to early 20c... and are increasingly harder to find. I think yours is a very nice Same....and at a very good price.....congrats

12th February 2007, 05:06 PM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Thanks David, I'm glad you didn't bid From the old threads I understand this may be a later type of the old forged seme, so early 20th sounds right. It's close to 27" long so quite large, can't wait to receive it and swing it around. What I like about these weapons, and other African ones as well, is that they show th gradual transition from speartip to sword...quite fascinating. I'll port more pics when I get it. Best, Emanuel

13th February 2007, 12:13 AM	#4
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Could be, David...I'll read up on it...can't wait to get it

24th February 2007, 10:41 PM	#6
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello Willem, Yours does look like a maasai seme...the handle is interesting though...have a look here : http://anthro.amnh.org/anthro.html in the Collections Database, then in the "African Ethnographic Collection" and search for maasai. I just received mine, but the sword is really wedged in tightly in the scabbard. Are there any ways to loosen a scabbard? Would applying abundent oil do it? Emanuel