African(?) Sword ID

[Armadew]

Howdy y'all.

A friend requested that I help him identify a sword he has in his collection. He purchased it at a antique fair here in Switzerland.

I tend to know more about European swords than anything else, so this one is stumping me...

My guess was and African tourist piece trying to be a "Congo Chieftain Knife" or some kind of African parade sword/knife.

Can anyone shed some light?

 

[Timo Nieminen]

From the curly tips, I'd guess Bamileke, Cameroon, rather than Congo. It does looks somewhat like some Congo knives/swords (Lobala or Njdembo), but I haven't seen those with curly tips. Bamileke knives/swords usually have a different type of hilt, but I've seen some (supposedly) Bamileke knives/swords with hilts like this one. I haven't seen one with scalloped edges like this.

As for "tourist", maybe but maybe not. They're usually regalia/dress items, and not sharp even if not made for tourist sale.

 

[Armadew]

Thanks for your input! :thumbup:

 

[Armadew]

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/i...-CUIR-ET-ANSES-RARE-A-TROUVER,language,E.html

Looks similar for sure

 

[gadunz]

 

[Armadew]

Thanks, gadunz! I was too lazy to post the pic from the link