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I just visited the site and fell in love with a few things. I like the Panabas among many others.

I'm not sure we're allowed to post direct links but it's easy to find for those who want to look.

You might want to delete that link before someone breaks out the Bosuns Pursuader on us.

Thank you for the connection. Some very cool things there.
 
Bawanna said:
I just visited the site and fell in love with a few things. I like the Panabas among many others.

I'm not sure we're allowed to post direct links but it's easy to find for those who want to look.

You might want to delete that link before someone breaks out the Bosuns Pursuader on us.

Thank you for the connection. Some very cool things there.
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Done. Thanks for telling me before something ugly happens. :eek:
 
:) yes, direct links to other vendors is frowned on and subject to 'persuasion'

the panabas is on my wish list too ;)
 
I feel like I just saved a life today, perhaps my own as well.

The Panabas just moved up on the want list just based on you wanting one. Has to be good.

I'll be all a glow if I have one before you do, but probably won't happen, just a dream. Love to play with one, watermelons, cantelopes and other things of that nature would not be safe.
Actually they aren't safe now, my new Medium Wajasaki is screaming to rip pumpkins and melons too.
 
Really nice. I think I see why you had trouble Kron. The workmanship is great. It almost looks too good for handmade, very clean work. Folks who haven't seen the things guys like Bookie can make handmade would think this had to be machine made. I can see I will need to be VERY careful or my bank accounts will be screaming bloody murder. I found 4 of the first 4 things I looked at that I wanted. I decided to not look at another and make it 5 of 5 LOL.

oh btw Kron, The Royal Navy's last official boatswain, Commander E W Andrew OBE, retired in 1990. There are no more British Boatswains.
 
I goofed and went back and looked again, I'm at 6 must haves now. This is not good. Not good at all.
 
hi shavru;

read about the cdr. they, like the USN, still have enlisted bosun's mates. not sure if they can tie their shoe laces tho. nowadays, you need an engineer for that. ;) i am of course, as an ex engineer officer, am completely unpredjudiced.

the dandao (bottom) on first look does look like a simple cheap knick-off till you pick it up. the balance is perfect, everything fits perfectly, the blade you then notice is very stiff for it's thickness, and is a full flat grind, and distal tapered, the fullers are forged in, not ground, and it is shaving sharp. the grip is comfortable, tho it could do with wrapping with 2 mm. paracord knotwork. this is no sheet steel D&D display model. the braided suspension cord and a proper chinese bronze belt hook i added myself.
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p.s. - bawanna it'll be a good while before i can get that panabas, so y'all will probably beat me to it. they were used as heavy two handed choppers, so pumpkins everywhere should beware. the moro bodyguards of the tribal datu (chief) carried them to defend the datu, and to take the heads of the defeated enemies. while i'd like one, i think my next tfw will be the sansibar #2 (the one with the knuckle guard).


TFW Swords HDR.jpg
 
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That Sansibar was one of my 6. I think you've planted a worm in my head.
 
I've been looking at Zhisword Daos too. They're not nearly as nice as the TFW ones but they're also only about $100. They're supposedly made from carbon steel and edge hardened.
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That is a good one to remember BB :D

When you get the box it will be a HUGE amount of fun to open it. Just like Christmas, you don't know what you got. But the person you got it from always gives such great items that you KNOW it will be awesome LOL.

Can't wait to see what you get. Take lots of pictures for us folks that have to soothe our HIKV vicariously for the moment.
 
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My latest acquisition. It's an African Takiuba but the blade appears to be European and fairly old (and chewed up). The seller says the blade says "Zacona Toscania" Zacona is a region in Tuscany, so I suppose that's where it came from.
 
I have typed a comment about 10 times. Always get a database not available response when I save it.

I will say that the blades look more African than European and there is history of these particular style blades known to be made in Africa being stamped with imitation European markings The rough splatter type markings are part of the way to recognize that as African blades are generally not finished properly and corrode in that specific way. However, it is impossible to tell from the pictures if that is the case here. So either way should be a LOT of fun researching if you like that sort of thing...
 
This one's definitely European, the fullering isn't something an African blade smith could pull off.

I posted pictures of it in "the other forum", consensus seems to be that the blade may have come from a Shiavona and it may date from anywhere from 18th century back to the early renaissance!

You're right that the blade does have some African features though, but these were modifications. It looks like they reproduced a single edged blade into a double edged one. They also put a "tsuba" wrap around the ricasso that's decorated with African looking patterns.

Also of interest is the Takouba hilt - it's very old and probably original to when this blade was converted. That means this Takouba was made a long time ago and wasn't used very long. Had it been used for a long time, the hilt would have been replaced multiple times and the blade certainly would have been better taken care of. Possibly this sword was collected a long time ago by a European and left to rust in an attic, or maybe it was buried for awhile and uncovered in this condition.
 
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my takouba, locally made blade with 3 fullers and crescent p marks simulating a german blade.
takouba01.jpg

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an indopersian short sword made from a (broken?) grooved european trade blade. these grooved blades were made in solingen (old spelling was sohlingen) by the hundreds and exported to africa, middle east, and persia/afghanistan/india where they were well loved by the indians, they were call ferengi (which means foreign). they also made it to the american colonies of spain and portugal, sometimes marlked as 'toledo' as a marketing ploy.
So.-Indian-Hanger-01-hdr.jpg
 
awesome Blue, sounds like it is a great find and one that has alot of unique history to it.

Kron, love that you even have an example of the thing I was talking about with the fake markings. And such a gorgeous example too :D
 
yes, it's a 'vintage' example rather than an antique, surprisingly light & flexible blade. i gather the older ones were heavier back when they actually used them. the more modern ones like mine are more for show and carried more by custom as part of their normal dress, tho it is not a tourist model. they tend to carry ak47's for more serious discussions now.

the sudanese (late 1800's, the mahdi, battle of omdurman, etc) carried similar cruciate straight swords, with a more normal type of guard and a generally longer straight double edged blade, the kaskara, they were fond of european straight double edged blades for these too and locally made ones exist with the false markings. like takouba, they were sometimes not pointed, curved single edged ones are found but rare. the scabbard usually, but not always, has a swollen end.

i do not as yet have one, so this is someone else's:
MINIKK-9.jpg
 
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I've got a couple Kaskaras, both with native made blades. One's a little rough but the other is a very nice blade with 3 fullers down the middle. An in-law, without asking of course, bent the blade so the tip touched the hilt and it sprung back straight.
 
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