Original African War Sword from the Upper Congo Region Anglo-Ashanti War – c.1870 Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind Set. IMA President Christian Cranmer recalls times when as a boy, his father used to tell him that when he was young, there really were Atlases that had “UNEXPLORED” and “UNKNOWN” printed right across the center of the Continent of Africa. Needless to say the European Powers, especially the British, were always looking for new areas where they could expand the empire. In the later half of the 19th century, they started many “Campaigns” of conquest and Empire building. They fought against indigenous peoples, who were armed with edged weapons for the most part.

This extraordinary Native fighting sword is a typical example. It is are quite unique to itself, coming from a world that had no contact with Europeans, and most likely little contact at all outside of the local area. In these areas, the power of the sword was everything but alas, no match for the breech loading rifles of the Europeans.

Very matured and probably dating to the 1860s to 1870s, this short sword looks truly fearsome and could no doubt inflict ghastly wounds. It has a wooden handle attached to a 15 1/2 flanged blade, with an overall length of 20 3/4 inches. The leaf shaped blade is still relatively sharp and very front heavy. It is pressed into the wooden handle, which has cracked on both sides due to shrinking.

This is almost certainly the “Campaign Souvenir” of some British Trooper who no doubt was only too pleased to have got back home to Victorian England.

Constructed of hand wrought iron and wood, ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 15 1/5″
Blade Style: Leaf Shaped Sword
Overall length: 20 3/4“