RSword Antique Blades

19th century Indian sword featuring a Khanda basket hilt handle with a Kilij style blade with split tip and very precisely cut serrated edges. The split tip blade is called Zulfiqar. The sword measures 39 1/2” in total length when measured in a straight line from the tip of blade to the tip of the pommel spike. The blade is damascus steel. It is pattern welded and the blade shows interesting patterns. The serrated edges are very precisely cut and the split tip is also executed well.

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17th century Indian Pata with a chiseled gauntlet. The sword measures 48 3/4” in total length. In untouched and uncleaned condition with even dark patina throughout. The gauntlet with 11 rows of chiseled design featuring various floral depictions. The elephant head also with chiseled designs. Entire surface area of the gauntlet has been carved. Several small holes in the gauntlet. A sign of long life. The blade is either an European import or an Indian made one. Flexible blade. The strapping connecting the gauntlet to the blade is also fully chiseled and features twin peacock at the base.

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19th century Indian Tulwar sword with nice pattern welded blade. The Tulwar style handle is covered in thick gold leaf. The curved pattern welded blade exhibits layering. A circular stamp near the forte of the blade contains a form of the inscription “banda-yi shah-i vilayat”, Slave of the King of Trusteeship” along with a Trisula marking.

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19th century Indian or Afghan Khyber Sword. This is a large sword measuring 34” in total length when measured in its scabbard. Ivory handle with ferrule/bolster and tang band covered in gold koftgari. The blade with extensive gold koftgari work. The damascus blade forged of wootz steel. The pattern is subtle but active with a few faded spots. The spine covered in gold work in lovely pattern. Wood scabbard covered in red velvet with brass chape. The velvet looks period but the chape might be a later replacement. A lovely example overall.

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Indian dagger with fine black wootz blade. This knife measures 14 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The knife, by itself, measures 13 1/2”. The handle consists of two slabs of a light colored horn with 4 hand cut pins on each side to secure to the tang. There is some gold koftgari decoration to the upper portion of the handle. The bolster is also covered in gold koftgar in a floral pattern. This floral pattern continues onto the base of the blade at the forte. The blade is forged of a bold, active black wootz that is in great condition. The scabbard is silver mounted with pierced silver work designs. The scabbard is covered in a red velvet that has some dirt/staining but is complete and all there. The piercing work on the silver is elaborate and creates lovely designs.

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Indian Zira Bouk Dagger with fine wootz blade. This knife measures 13 1/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The knife, by itself, measures 11 3/4”. The handle is a 12 faceted one with 5 facets of steel and then a facet in gold koftgari and then 5 facets of steel and then a facet in gold koftgari. The steel facets have a grain to them and could quite possible be wootz but the pattern is not consistent enough to confidently ascribe. The bolster is covered in gold koftgari with a floral design. The blade is quite nice. It has a sunken panel on each side that is a high quality, black wootz steel with an active and bold pattern. The edges and then the thickened point are in polished steel. Really amazing how the smith managed to inlay the wootz section into the highly polished steel. The scabbard is wood covered in purple velvet.

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Fine Indian Khanjar dagger with wootz tears of the afflicted blade. This dagger measures 17 7/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is made of jasper stone with a fantastic grain/pattern throughout that is reminiscent of damascus steel. The handle is faceted and done in a pistol grip shape. The guard is silver and is done in ancanthus and palmette shapes. The blade is slightly curving with two cut outs in the center of the blade with small metal balls contained within this channel. This is known as the Tears of the Afflicted. The blade at the forte is plain steel and then the rest of the blade is done in wootz steel. The scabbard with silver mounts and purple velvet over a wood core. A very fine dagger. It was published in Runjeet Singh’s catalogue: “The Goddess: The Arms and Armours of the Rajputs November 2018 London”.

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Very rare Indian sword bladed mace. This mace measures 29 1/2” in total length. The handle is done in a khanda basket hilt style with wheel pommel with curved spike, hand guard and the grip is wrapped in old green fabric that is very well worn. The handle is attached to a steel shaft that is faceted. Just underneath the basket guard are two quillons. The sword blade has a thick spine that continues down to the area where it curves around to the tip of the cutting edge. What is impressive to me is that the blade seems forged integral with the shaft. I don’t think the blade is inserted. If it has it is so well done to look absolutely seam less. The blade exhibits some bold pattern welded patterns particularly near the shaft. The blade has old oxidation throughout. A very rare piece. I can’t recall seeing anything else quite like it.

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Large Fine Indian Axe with Heavy Silver Decoration on the blade. This axe measures 42 3/8” in total length. While the shape of the axe reminds you of the Bullova form the quality of this piece overall suggests it was made elsewhere. Perhaps Rajasthani. The crescent shaped axe head has a thick overlay of silver with repeating floral patterns. The silver covers the majority of the blade with just a 3/8” sliver of blade undecorated but showing a very dark patina. The axe head measures 8 1/4” tip edge tip edge and is 2 3/8” from the center of the cutting edge to the back of the blade. The crescent shaped blade is attached to the shaft via well carved and shaped socket with a lovely shape for the section attached to the blade. All surfaces of the socket and the piece attached to the blade are covered in heavy silver overlay. The shaft is a lovely piece of wood with good density, patina and grain. Silver caps adorn the top and bottom of this axe. A rare and very fine Indian Axe.

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Indian Sword with lengthy inscription on the spine. This is an interesting sword. The blade is of a style that you normally find on huge, oversized swords. In this case, it is a normal tulwar blade size. This sword measures 32 1/2” when measured in a straight line from the tip of the blade to the top of the handle. The handle is steel and has lovely silver and gold koftgari decorations. The silver koftgari is done in floral decorations. The gold koftgari is also done in floral decoration but a different style flower than the silver koftgari. The blade has some imagery on both sides at the forte. You have various scenes of animals’ nose to nose, a Hindu deity with trisula symbol above their head and some floral decoration. Above that, the blade is nicely segmented and accented in brass. Inside the fullers or grooves the blade exhibits a pattern that is achieved through acid etching. This form of pattern is known as faux damascus. The very tip of the blade with inlaid brass decoration. Some wrinkling to the tip of the blade. There is a lengthy inscription along the spine. I’m unsure what language it is in or what it states. This sword was most likely used in religious ceremonies. It does have a sharp edge so could have had some sacrificial purposes. A very attractive Indian sword.

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Indian Kirach Sword with blade inscription.

19th century Indian Firangi sword. It measures 54” from the tip of the blade to the top of the pommel spike. The handle with ribbed guard with floral decoration. The floral decoration extends around the entire guard. Saucer shaped pommel with a long curved spike. The metal strapping securing the handle to the blade with floral decoration and an Indian deity. The entire surface of the strapping on both sides with decoration. The long blade of good quality. Could be an European import or Indian made. The hand forged blade exhibits some layering upon close inspection.

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Superb large Indian leather painted shield. This shield measures 20 1/2” X 20 1/2”. The shield is formed out of leather and has been carved and painted. The border with very fine floral carvings that has been painted in whites, greens and reds. The large surface area of the shield has been painted green and when you look closely there are stamped paisley decoration which is a fine additional touch. The center medallion with lovely decoration and colors. There is gold, red, green and white. 4 large bosses adorn the front of the shield. The back of the shield has been painted red with gold highlighted decorations. A very fine Indian shield.

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Heavy 17th/18th Century Indian Patissa Sword with blade stamps. This sword measures 38 1/4” in total length. It is a very heavy and massive sword. Definitely meant for business. Even the steel handle is thicker and stouter than normal. Indicating an early date for this sword. I would place it in the 17th or 18th century. As mentioned, heavy thick steel handle with faceted grip, thick wheel pommel and thick guard with thick lotus bud finial. The blade sports two stamps. A katar stamp and a trisula stamp. The blade is thick and heavy. There are some nicks along the edge so this blade has seen some use. There are some scratches and wear to the blade. A very impressive sword.

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Indian Khanda sword with silver koftgari hilt. This sword measures 34" in total length with a blade that is 1 1/2" wide at the forte that widens to 2 1/4" at its widest point towards the end of the blade. The Khanda basket hilt is covered in silver koftgari. It is over 95% complete on the guard and knucklebow and down at the forte and is showing some wear on the spike and the rim of the wheel pommel. The spike is a good thick one. The blade is very sharp and is forged of layered steel. You can see the heat treating effects of the blade most notably along the cutting edge towards the bottom of the blade and around the tip of the blade. The blade has some surface scratching. A very nice Khanda of good age. Probably late 18th to early 19th century.

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Fine Indian Kutch Shamshir Sword with fine pierced copper mounts and parrot handle. Particularly fine piece with the entire scabbard with the pierced copper decoration.

Excellent hefty Afghan Pulwar sword with rare U-turn and segmented fullered blade. This powerful sword measures 35 1/4” in total length. The handle is steel with fluted grip and well formed dragon or makhara heads for the downturned quillon. Large pommel. This is a big handle and it has a solid feel and weight to it which is a nice counter balance to the hefty blade. The blade is of kilij shape and takes on an early form with a long yelman. Another interesting feature to this blade is the segmented fullers with a U-Turn at the end on one side. This is done in imitation of early Persian work. You can see an example in my gallery section of a 17th century Persian blade. This blade is forged of pattern welded steel as the laminations are visible throughout the blade but best at the forte and towards the tip. Sharp beveled edge and a ricasso block round out the blade. Given the heft of the overall piece, the quality of the blade with the rare segmented and U-turn fullers, the early style Kilij shaped blade and solid handle makes this example one of the nice Pulwar I have owned.

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Rare Moro Kris Saber Sword.

19th century Moro Kris Sword. Wood pommel with jute wrapped grip. The blade is completely inlaid all over both sides with various talismanic symbols. Nice period scabbard.

Moro kris sword with fine twistcore blade. The pommel is wood with a very fine grain and lovely wrapped grip. The blade has a very bold and active twistcore pattern in the central fullers.

Impressive Datu Quality Moro Kris Sword with Large Ivory Jungayyan Pommel. This sword measures 29 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. It sports a large and spectacular Jungayyan ivory pomel. The pommel measures 7 1/4” from front to back. It is well carved and in very good condition. One of the largest carved ivory pommels I have seen. There is a nice silver band at the top and bottom of the handle with the grip wrapped in straight and twisted rattan. The wavy blade with twin silver asang asang at the forte with some nice fullering in this section as well. The scabbard is wood with a silver band and nice rattan bands. A truly impressive and high quality Moro Kris sword.

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Beautiful Silver Horsehoof Pommel Moro Kris Sword. This sword measures 30” in total lenth when measured in its scabbard. The handle is quite nice. It consists of a large octagonal faceted horsehoof shaped silver pommel. Then the grip is wrapped in layered twine with fancy knotting on the side. There is a silver ferrule at the base of the grip. At the top of the blade are two silver clamps. The wavy blade shows lovely laminations down the center of the blade that are framed by a dark hardened edge zone running down the edges and around the tip. The scabbard is lovely with nice wood throat and well carved bottom with rattan wrap including some diagonal banding mixed in. The scabbard in good condition. A Datu quality Moro Kris with rare silver horsehoof pommel.

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Very rare Moro Kris sword with Jungayyan Carabao Horn Handle and Multirow Twistcore blade. This fine sword measures 29 1/2” when measured in its scabbard. The handle is very rare. It is a Jungayyan pommel but it made from Carabao Horn. The Jungayyan pommel measures 6 1/2” from front to back and is 2 1/2” at its widest point across the top. The grip is tightly wrapped in twine with a fine stitch along the back of the handle. Not only is the Carabao Horn Jungayyan pommel very rare the blade exhibits a very rare multirow twistcore pattern. Most twistcore you see on Moro swords are a single row typically found in the center of the blade. This blade has at least 4 rows and it even appears to go out to the edges of the blade and while not in a defined row it is additional space of twistcore so 4 narrow rows with the twist star pattern and then upon close inspection you can see the twist pattern along the edge of the blade. The blade has a slight forward cant to it. There is a narrow fuller and a shallow wider fuller but these areas are well worn. This is an old blade. There is a fair amount of oxidation and wear to it. The scabbard is wood and is carved out of a single piece of wood. This is an opportunity to acquire a one of a kind Moro sword. You are unlikely to see a similar example.

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Rare Spanish American War Filipino Katipunan Marked and Dated Sword. This sword has a lot going on and many features to point out. The sword measures 27 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The sword features a handle with a wood grip. There is a split to the underside of the handle. The wood grip has a steel pommel cap and a steel ferrule above and below it. There is a steel guard with a downturned quillon. The guard is forged integral with the knucklebow and it is peined on top and finished with a steel washer or nut. The blade has a wider belly and a long false edge. The tip of the blade has some wrinkling. The scabbard is amazing. It is made from a single piece of wood. There is a broken section at the back of the scabbard along with some cracking to the back as well. The very top of the scabbard is dated 1901. Below that you have a block with some type of tree carved with two suns above it. At the bottom of the block is a heart with a sun face in a triangle with 3 additional suns, one at each corner of the triangle. Some very strong Katipunan and Filipino First Replublic symbolism. Below that you have a number of cities or provinces carved into the scabbard. I can make out the words, Bataan, Filipinas, Rumbolez or Bumbolez, Balanoa, and Eahtt. Running down and between these words you have a flying sun. Then you have a very nicely raised and faceted section to the scabbard that concludes in a detailed snake head. One the very top carved facet is the words “32nd US Vols” and on the next ridge down is carved “A 15 de Enero”. The 32nd US Vols was the 32nd US Volunteer Infantry that served in the Philippine Insurrection from 1899-1901. This ties with the date on the top of the scabbard. Definitely a sword with some historical and symbolic significance.

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Superb Moro Panabas Sword with Fine Handle and Blade. This sword measures 32 1/4” long when measured in a straight line from the tip of the blade to the top of the handle. The handle measures slightly over 17” long and appears to be made for two handed use. The lower portion of the handle with rattan bands of various colors. The wood portion of the handle with very fine carvings. The grip is faceted with raised sections around the handle. Makes for a nice grip in the hand. The wood has a lovely patina. The handle in very good shape with just a few small chips around the pommel. There is some remnants of the lime inlay still in many sections of the handle. The handle and the blade have a nice arching curve to give the sword tremendous cutting power. The blade has a thick spine and is very well forged. The finish/polish to the blade is a cut above what you typically find on a panabas. There are some heat treated zones along the cutting edge and the blade is quite sharp. The fretwork at the tip of the blade is superb. This is a very fast sword. It is lightweight, yet the blade has a strong spine and sharp edge. One of the nicest Moro Panabas I have seen.

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Exquisite matched pair of Filipino Talibon sword with figural carving. This set dates to the Spanish American war period. The male figure in uniform of the period. Katipunan or Insurgent period triangle with three stars at the top of the scabbard. Talibon blade with thick spine. The other sword with Filipino woman carved on pommel and on the scabbard. Amazing piece.

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This is a very rare Naga hilted Moro knife. This knife measures 16 3/4” in total length. The handle consists of the wood pommel that curves at the top and finishes in a Naga. There are two silver “eyes” at the top of this carved section of the handle. Silver pins also are located at the very top of the handle and down its “back” as it curves to the lower section of the handle. Wood with lovely patina. The ferrule looks to be silver with etched designs. The blade is interesting. Not really your typical barong shaped blade this one takes on more an almost bowie style shape. The cutting edge of the blade is quite sharp and then on the top of the blade the spine runs until you have the downturned long clip point. That area of the blade is sharp as well. Blade with oxidation and small areas of microscopic pitting. A very rare Moro piece with the fine Naga hilt.

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Filipino Bolo sword with Fist Pommel with ring and unusual symbol on scabbard. This is an early example of the Bolo’s with fist pommels with a very interesting symbol on the scabbard. This piece measures 22 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is black carabao horn with a carved fist on the pommel. The fingers are carved with great detail with each fingernail done nicely. The middle finger sports a ring. The grip is faceted and there is an age crack to one side. The ferrule is brass, is also faceted and has floral decorations to one side. The blade is an interesting shape and is quite thick. The spine is about 7/16” thick at the forte. The scabbard is made of two wood halves bound together with 4 brass bands. The bottom of the scabbard curves upward a bit similar to Mandaya scabbards just not as pronounced. The very bottom of the scabbard forms a V-shape and there are two “eyes” which make the bottom of the scabbard resemble a snake’s head. I believe that is the intention here. There is a wonderful carving on one side. I haven’t seen anything quite like it before, but I believe it is maybe a centipede or scorpion or something like that. A rare Filipino Sword with interesting and unique symbology.

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Very rare Moro Mandaya Bolo sword with floral decorated blade. Weapons from the Mandaya are fairly rare. This example is note worthy with the extensive floral decorations to both sides of the blade. This matches similar decorations found on a few Mandaya spear head that date to the late 19th to early 20th century which is where I would place this piece. The sword measures 24” when measured in its scabbard and in a straight line from the top of the handle to the upward curved tip of the scabbard. The handle is wood with upturned pommel. There is a small hole on one side of the handle. This would have originally contained a silver disc. The ferrule at the base of the handle is brass. The blade with a very wide deep belly. The blade measures 3 1/4” wide at its widest point. The blade has a long row of floral decorations that is found on both sides of the blade. There is a decorative protrusion on the cutting edge side near the forte and there is a decorative carving on the spine as well. The blade with some surface scratches. The scabbard is made in two pieces that was held together with rattan strips. Many of the rattan strips have broken or are missing so the two halves have some play. The front side has its original stain and black highlight areas. The back of the scabbard shows some loss of the dye in many areas due to wear. There is a crack and some missing wood at the bottom of the scabbard and another crack at the top of the scabbard. All in all, an impressive and rare sword and with some minor restoration to the scabbard and the missing disc and this would be a fantastic addition to the collection of Filipino weapons.

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Moro barong sword with silver inlaid covered blade. The sword measures 23 1/3” when measured without its scabbard. The handle is Binati wood with flashing grains and nice patina. There is a chip to the beak of the pommel otherwise handle in good shape. Tall silver pommel. The blade is covered extensively on both sides with silver inlay. You have extensive Arabic script, symbols, a Zhul Fiqar sword among other things. Rare to find a blade inlaid with this much script, symbols and decoration. The scabbard is a nice one, but the blade doesn’t fit all the way in. There is a metal band towards the bottom of the scabbard the restricts the movement but even if you push that down the blade doesn’t fit all the way in. So, this scabbard is not original to the blade. But I’m including it since it has probably been with this blade for a while.

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Nice silver mounted Moro Minasbad sword. This sword measures 26 1/2” without scabbard. The handle has the animal head pommel and the pommel and grip is decked out in silver. Shell guard with downturned quillon and knucklebow that ends up in the animals mouth. At some point in time the handle has slipped a bit on the tang. The handle doesn’t sit flush against where the blade widens where tang joins blade. Blade has thick spine with two X markings at the forte and there is a matching X marking on the downturned quillon. Blade widens as it progresses towards the tip. Blade spine remains rather thick for much of its length. Decorative notches at the base of the blade. Blade edge is quite sharp. The scabbard has what seems to be one half of the original scabbard and then a later wood half joined and it has been wrapped in rattan. The blade does not fit well in this configuration. I think it could be taken apart and improved upon but I’ll leave that to the next owner. Will include this scabbard but will not store blade in it for fear of it getting stuck. These silver mounted Minasbad are fairly scarce.

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Filipino Minasbad sword with rare brass pommel. Great 19th century Filipino Minasbad and the first example I have seen with a brass pommel animal or deity hilt. The sword measures 30 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a wood grip with spiraling that would have contained twisted brass wire at one time. The ferrule at the base of the grip is brass. Most unusual is the separate brass pommel featuring what looks like a horse’s head but with really high bat like wings. Typically, this feature is carved integral with the grip and in my experience, this is the first time I have run across a brass example. The knuckle bow and guard are integrally forged and of steel. You have a raised, clamshell guard on one side, the opposite side turns down over the blade. You also have a downturned piece that covers the spine of the blade. The spine is thick, and the blade is narrow at the forte but holds nice thickness and you also have some serrated edges at the forte. The blade gets wider as it progresses to the tip reaching a maximum width of 1 1/4” down about 6” from the tip. The scabbard is made in two halves. The top side with tall belt clip with two holes that a rope belt would have passed through originally. A simple carving at the very base of the scabbard. The top half of the scabbard retaining a darker stain while the bottom half is more worn and lighter in color. The blade is very sharp.

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Excellent Silver Mounted Moro Barong with Flashing Grain Scabbard. This lovely sword measures 27” in total length. The handle appears to be carabao horn and is covered in silver. The silver work on the pommel and crest has lovely Okir designs throughout. At the base of the handle the upper ferrule appears to be swassa and the lower ferrule is silver. Very intricate and detailed work in this area. The blade is laminated with some minor spotting on one side. The scabbard is lovely. The very top of the scabbard has very fine and detailed carving. The body of the scabbard on one side is wood with a very flashy and bold grain. The bottom of the scabbard turns up and has very detailed and fine carving to match the top of the scabbard. There are some later rattan bands wrapped at the top of the scabbard.

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Unusual Moro or Borneo Kampilan with Faces carved on Handle. The sword measures 34 1/2” in total length. The handle is wood and features two human heads carved on the upper portion of the handle. The grip is carved with scales and the handle has a very stylized crocodile or dragon jaws look to it. Carvings throughout the jaws give it a handsome look. There are tufts of hair to the bottom jaw with a few plugs missing. There is a brass ferrule at the bottom of the handle. The cross guard is also wood with a green rope tied through the holes and used as a lanyard. The blade has a thick spine with some X and lines on the spine near the forte. The blade is laminated and has some areas of oxidation on both sides.

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This is one of the nicest Naga swords I have either seen or owned. It measures 19 1/2” tom the top of the pommel (hair excluded) to the furthest point on the blade. The tuft of dyed hair on top of the pommel measures about 12”. The handle is cast brass or bronze and is very finely cast. The section of the grip next to the blade has very finely cast spiraled circle designs and then extending up from there you have a narrow section up to a disc and then above that a ribbed pommel with a side ring for lanyard. The blade is also much better than often encountered. It is made from very good steel that starts narrow at the forte and then widens towards the tip. The blade is 3 1/2” at its widest point which is at the end of the blade. One of the nicest Naga weapons you will see.

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Naga Kachin Dao Sword with rare carved scabbard with gold leaf. The sword, measured by itself, is 23 7/8” long. The handle features a brass ferrule with fine carvings at the base. The grip is lacquered black with remnants of a red ink inscription about the base. A few letters can still be made out. The pommel is covered in a bone plate. The blade shows a hairpin damascus pattern like you would find on Tibetan and Bhutanese swords. The blade has a strong ridge line that is just below the midpoint of the blade and then the blade bevels to the edge. The opposite side is flat. The blade has two chips to the edge towards the point. The scabbard is quite nice. One side is open faced with rattan bands and a rattan weave. One unique and rare feature are the carved figures to the front and back. On the open-faced side, you have a carved figure with crown and wings. Gold leaf has been applied and contrasts nicely with the dark black carvings that form the figure. On the opposite side you have a carved animal or mythological beast and then another carved figure of a demon or spiritual figure. The back of the scabbard with black lacquer. A very nice Dao with rare carvings on the scabbard.

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Tibetan Sword, 18th or 19th century, with gilt iron mounts to the handle and pierced iron U-Frame scabbard. Features a very rare blade pattern collectors refer to as “Jelly Roll” as the undulating pattern is very distinct and different than your typical Tibetan hairpin damascus.

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Fantastic Short Sword of the Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan. This sword, in the style of a Japanese wakizashi sword, but in Ainu materials and craftsmanship is great for several reasons. First, Ainu swords and knives are not very common. Second, this one is a unique size. All of the examples I have owned or seen are either dagger/knife size or sword sized. This one measures 21 1/8" when measured in its scabbard. The third feature that makes it great is its curvature. It is deeply curved for an Ainu piece. And fourth is all of the inlay on the scabbard. The handle features a large staghorn pommel with a wood grip that has been carved in diamond shapes to imitate a Japanese sword wrapped grip. You have wood diamond shapes and then what looks like a pewter. Some of the pewter diamond shapes for the grip are missing. There is a staghorn ferrule at the base of the handle and then a staghorn "tsuba". The staghorn "tsuba' has a hole for the side knife as does the scabbard but the side knife is no longer present. The scabbard is lovely. It is wood with a staghorn toe/chape and then dot and oval shapes that are inlaid with bone or staghorn. Some of that inlay is missing. These decorations are to be found on both sides of the scabbard. The top and the bottom of the scabbard have strips of bone, some of the bone strips missing, to add to the complexity of decoration to the scabbard. The blade is deeply curved and features a high ridgeline. It could be a repurposed Japanese blade. The tang has patina but no signatures are present. Even with the missing inlays (which can be restored) this is a fine and rare sword for its size and appearance.

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Very rare Korean short sword or belt dagger. Korean swords are very scarce to begin with but this is the first example of a belt dagger or short sword of this style I have seen which makes it extremely rare. This piece measures 17" in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is composed of a wood 8-faceted grip with a brass ferrule and pommel cap, also 8-faceted. The tang is peined on top and has multiple decorative washers. The 4 sided guard is also of brass with a hole on one side, in the Japanese style and also with a Japanese style seppa that is integral to the guard. There are a series of clustered dots done in sets of 3. Some slight wiggle to the guard. The blade is Japanese style with a high ridge line that runs to the tip, which is broken and squared off. There is a Chinese style tunkou at the base of the blade with a cut out. The blade has a sharp edge and has oxidation and some areas of pitting throughout. The scabbard is two slabs of wood with red laquer and fitted with matching brass mounts. Each of the brass mounts with the same style of cut out as found on the tunkou. There is a belt clip with brass stem that slides under the two middle mounts and finishes with a mushroom shaped cloud decoration. There is some loss of wood to the top of the scabbard and a long crack to one side. The wood has shrunk a bit with age so the mounts slide around a bit and the blade fits snugly into the scabbard. This sword would date to the 19th century. Like most Korean swords, it incorporates elements from both Japanese and Chinese swords. A very rare, one of a kind sword.

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Taiwanese Aboriginal Sword of the Rukai people. Very complete sword with lots of snake and human ancestor figures throughout. Back of scabbard with old Chinese porcelain discs. Bottom of scabbard with arm bracelet.

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Rare Taiwanese Aboriginal sword of the Paiwan tribe. This sword measures 22 1/4” in total length. It is in uncleaned and untouched condition. The handle is faceted with 8 facets of varying sizes. The upper portion of the handle with tear dropped shaped carvings that have been filled with black dye. The handle has remnants of red dye which would have contrasted with the black very well. The iron ferrule is also faceted. Very thick blade. Is covered in a dark patina but where the bands are on the scabbard you can see the shadow on the blade. Has been untouched for a very long time. The blade is very thick and on one side has a double bevel. One along the spine and one along the edge. The opposite side has a hollow grind. There is some kind of marking on the blade on the hollow grind side. Perhaps a Chinese or Japanese mark? The scabbard is a perfect fit for the blade. There are two brass bands with Chinese style markings. An iron bar is the only other thing covering the front of the scabbard which is left open. There are a couple of holes on the scabbard that probably held additional metal work that is long gone to history. This is a good old example. 19th century.

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Very ornate Tibetan or Bhutanese knife with fine pierced worked scabbard and handle. This lovely knife measures 15 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is a work of art. The grip is of brass that has been very finely and delicately pierced all over. Lots of small details to be found when you look closely at the carving. The pommel cap has very intricate carvings on each side as well as the top of the pommel. The scabbard is covered with this very fine intricate pierced brass decoration. It is amazing how small the piercings are. The back of the scabbard has the only section that doesn’t have this intricate carving. It does have a brass sleeve with floral decoration, but it isn’t pierced carving like you see everywhere else. There are dozens of very small bezels that contain very small turquoise stones. Quite a few are missing. The blade is double edged with a raised median ridge on both sides. A fantastic knife.

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19th century Burmese Dha sword. Features elongated grip with extensive detailed figural carvings intertwined with foliage and other open work carvings. The pommel, guard and scabbard mounts are silver with high relief carvings. Interesting clasp on top of scabbard to hold to handle ferrule. Superb Dha.

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Fantastic Silver Mounted Burmese Dha Sword. This sword measures 34” in total length when measured in its scabbard. Very long handle measures 13 1/2” in total and is comprised of 3 sections. A silver ferrule with floral decoration, a superbly carved ivory section with open work carving, human figures, floral tendrils and then the pommel with tall silver ferrule and onion shaped silver pommel, all the silver with floral decorations. The scabbard is wood with silver mounts all with floral decoration. Nice thick blade with one narrow fuller and then two more narrow fullers above it along the spine. Angled tip. Top quality piece in great condition with fine silver mounts and lovely carved ivory grip.

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Rare Thai Palace Guard Dha with Gold Niello Mounts. This sword measures 32” in total length when it is measured in its scabbard. The handle has three decorated brass components. The bottom ferrule with fine decorations and then another brass decorated element above it and then the pommel is also brass decorated. The grip is some type of cloth or braided twine that has been lacquered. The straight blade with thick spine and angled tip. The spine inlaid in gold decoration on both sides. The gold work is 99% there with some microscopic pin hole pits in a few areas. The scabbard is cloth covered with three gold niello decorated mounts. Lovely mounts with fine floral decoration. The bottom of the chape with an elephant decoration. Orange braided suspension belt is attached. The bottom two pictures show a very similar example in the National Museum of Bangkok.

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Burmese Dha sword with fine silver inlaid blade. Sword measures 35 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of a copper grip with designs imitating silver twisted wire throughout. Silver ferrule and pommel with punched decorations. The top of the pommel has been inlaid with a piece of agate stone. The scabbard is wood with silver mounts. There are six silver bands with interesting silver wavy bands rest beneath the twisted silver wire. The blade is fantastic. Thick blade with silver on black background decorations to both sides of the blade depicting dragons. Also, you have the spine drop down on each side above the silver inlaid background and this area also has silver zig zag decoration.

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This is a very large Burmese Dha Dagger. It measures 19” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The grip consists of a long section of ivory with a very detailed demon carved at the top of the handle. Additionally, there is a brass ferrule at the base of the handle that sports a coiled snake around it. I have not seen many snake motif in Burmese iconography so this seems a bit unique. Very thick blade that shows laminations in the body of the blade. The scabbard is contemporary but made in the style and to the quality of materials you would see in an original scabbard. A fine dha dagger of immense proportions with interesting iconography to the handle.

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Interesting Southern Thai Dagger with very rare twistcore blade. This dagger measures 15 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood and is nicely carved in a naga or dragon head with mouth open and teeth and tongue showing. The animal has large bulging eyes and a strong ridge or mane that runs from the lower neck to the top of the nose. The ferrule is siver. The forward curving blade is forged of twistcore steel with a lovely pattern. The forging is tight and the pattern is bold and clearly visible. The scabbard is wood that has been painted or lacquered with some rattan bands and a cloth wrap at the top. A rare and superb knife with rare twistcore blade.

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Early to mid 20th century Mongolian or Chinese Niuweidao paired swords. The handle, guards, and scabbard are done in silver with high relief carvings. The scabbard inlaid with coral, turquoise and jade stones. Raised dragon at top of scabbard and towards the chape.

Early 20th century Mongolian Sword. The handle is a green hardstone with carvings on the pommel and guard. Silver cup shaped cross guard. The blade is impressive. Deeply and precisely cut fullers which converge to a very Indian inspired Trident shaped configuration towards the tip of the blade. The scabbard done in silver with very high relief carvings and inlaid with corals, turquoise, jade stones.

Excellent fighting Chinese Jian sword. This sword measures 25” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The sword has good heft in the hand and is complete. The handle consists of a wood grip that has a chord wrapped grip that is lacquered. There is a grommet at the top of the handle on both sides that would have accommodated a tassel at one time. All the mounts are brass that have developed a lovely patina. The pommel and the ferrule have a floral motif decoration. The guard is down turning as opposed to turning up and the mask is well carved with lovely details in the eyes and nose. The blade is robust. It measures 18 1/2” and is about 1 5/8” wide. The blade exhibits active lamination throughout and there are darkened zones along the edge. Strong median ridge lends to the beefier blade for this size sword. Lovely wood scabbard with nice grain and patina with all brass mounts exhibiting same patina as handle. They all have matching scrolling vegetal or cloud motif. One small crack to the wood scabbard on one side near the scabbard chape. A fine quality and complete Chinese Jian.

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Chinese Long Jian sword of the late Qing early Republican era. This long sword measures 41 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The long handle, measuring 9 1/4” from the bottom of the guard to the top of the pommel, consists of a brass guard, a ferrule above and below the grip wrap, and then a pommel. The grip, as well as the scabbard, has what looks like wire wrap that is covered in some type of cloth that is then lacquered or painted. The finish look has a reddish brown color to it. One interesting thing is the theme to all of the handle and scabbard mounts. They depict birds. I have not seen birds on Chinese mounts before but have seen birds on Korean Eunjangdo. The blade measures 30 1/4” in total length and is 1 3/8” wide at the forte. High ridge line down the center of the blade and the tip finishes in a V-shape. Because of the high ridge line, length and thickness of the blade it has good weight. Too heavy for a battle sword. Both sides of the blade are inlaid in five brass dragons. These inlays may point to a religious or ceremonial use for this sword. Perhaps for temple use. The scabbard with brass mounts ensuite with the handle mounts and the scabbard material matching the grip. An interesting and unique sword.

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Very rare Chinese Headsman Broad Bladed Jian Sword. This large and powerful sword measures 30 3/4" in total length and features a very broad blade that measures 22 7/8" long and 3 3/8" wide. The blade has a median ridge down the center on both sides. The very tip of the blade has been bent. Rectangular shaped cross guard in brass with brass ferrule. The grip of the sword is turned wood with lovely patina. The tang is peined at the top over a brass washer. These very broad bladed swords are quite rare. There are only a couple of this exact form known to exist. A chance to acquire a rare sword used to take heads in China in the late 19th century.

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Fine and large Sri Lankan Ceylonese Piha Kaetta dagger with scabbard.

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Silver Mounted Nepalese hanshee kukri. This kukri measures 20” when measured in its scabbard in a straight line from the tip of the scabbard to the top of the pommel. Early 19th century example with a long slender blade with two grooves along the spine at the base. A wide and shallow notch at the forte of the blade. Long wooden handle with iron bolster. The scabbard is covered in black leather with quillwork ornamentation to one side with a silver chape and locket. The silver mounts are decorated in repousse work and the border of the chape is decorated in meandering vine with leaves on alternating sides. The locket is decorated with stylized flowers and an openwork border of heart-shaped leaves. A few leaves missing. The undecorated leather side seems a more recent replacement. These hanshee kukri are getting hard to find.

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Nepalese hanshee kukri with leather scabbard. Nice early example probably early 19th century. It measures 19” when measured in its scabbard and in a straight line from the tip of the scabbard to the top of the pommel. Long wooden handle with very fine grain. Iron bolster. Long heavily curved blade has a good bit of oxidation on both sides. Blade features two narrow fullers that run along the spine near the forte. Notch carved at base of blade. There are a couple of nicks to the edge of the blade. Nice leather scabbard made from a thick hide with embroidered stitches that are nicely done. A rare and sought after hanshee knife. These are getting hard to find.

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Early 20th century Nepalese Kukri. Polished black horn handle. Very nice scabbard with fine leather and high karat gold mounts. These gold mounted Kukri were gifts from the royal house.

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Persian jade handled Khanjar dagger with silver and enamel scabbard. This high quality dagger measures 15 1/8” when measures in its scabbard. The handle consists of two faceted dark green jade grip slabs with a decorated brass tang band around the outside. Each jade grip slab has 3 bezel with an inset stone. There is a brass plate at the base of the bezel. One is missing. The jade grip slabs have just a tad side to side movement. The khanjar shaped blade is forged of damascus wootz steel. The pattern is dark, bold and consistent throughout. There are some slight areas of scabbard wear otherwise in good shape. Gold koftgari decorates the forte of the blade on both sides. The scabbard is open work silver with enamel decoration in the background. One side depicts numerous scenes of people and animals. The opposite side with floral decorations.

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19th century Persian sword from the Qajar period. The sword measures 39 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is steel in the Persian Qajar revival form with worn silver koftgari. Finely shaped blade with crisp central fuller and then additional smaller fuller above it. Fullers cut and ground very precisely. Long false edge from the small yelman to the tip along the spine. At the forte are etched panels of Arabic inscriptions with a helmeted warrior below. There is also a cartouche on each side with etched Arabic script. The blade has very small hints of some type of pattern most notably in the fullers. Can’t really classify it as wootz steel but my guess is that the blade is a crucible steel and the pattern is not very strong. The scabbard is very nice. Silver mounts with long leather section with fine spiral stitching to the reverse. The silver mounts with some decorations.

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Fine Indian or Persian Spearhead with Black Wootz Blade. It measures 15 3/4” in total length. This spearhead is very finely crafted. The socket is very precise. Multi-faceted with a perfectly round opening to the socket. There are incised lines in V-shapes through the facets. Below that is a vase-shaped section with which the blade sets. Nice dark patina throughout this section. The blade is double edged with precisely ground fullers and a pronounced central ridge. Thickened armour point. The fullers show a lovely dark black wootz pattern. The pattern is bold and active. Some areas of oxidation and some minor pitting mostly at the thickened point. A high quality spearhead.

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Rare 19th century Persian Qajar Yataghan sword. This sword measures 32 1/2” in total length. The handle and scabbard are steel with Qajar scenes throughout. You see animals, florals, fish, humans in cartouches covering the handle and scabbard on both sides. It is unusual to see a Persian Qajar piece done in a Yataghan style. The other very rare feature is that the blade is wootz steel. You seldom see wootz bladed yataghans and wootz bladed yataghans in Qajar decor are even more rare.

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Central Asian shamshir sword with fine silver mounts and very unique pattern to the blade.

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Georgian Tbilisi Gold Mounted Kindjal Sword with twistcore blade dated 1795. Exceptional piece for quality of materials, condition and layered blade with Twistcore center blade with lovely pattern.

Very fine Tbilisi Kindjal with rare gold koftgari mounts and inscription to blade.

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Very fine silver and ivory mounted Moroccan Koummya dagger. This knife measures 17” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is ivory with nice striations. A small repair to the ivory at the top of the handle beneath the pommel on one side. The pommel cap is silver and very finely decorated. The blade is above average for these pieces and sports a stamped marking at the base of the blade on one side. The scabbard is silver and finely decorated over the entire surface. A very fine knife.

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Very fine Ottoman or Greek Yataghan sword. This sword measures 28 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is all metal with small ears that has been decorated in gold koftgari in a floral pattern. The tangband also done in gold koftgari. There is wear to the koftgari on the handle. Bolster with nice gold koftgari decorated flowers. The forward curving blade with gold koftgari floral decorations at the forte. There are remnants of two circular cartouche on each side of the blade, but they have been worn away. Either deliberately removed or have worn away over time. Blade with some areas of light oxidation. The scabbard is very nice. It is two sleeves of highly decorated silver covering a wood core. The silver is thick and heavy. There is a fair amount of oxidation to the silver. A good silver cloth would really bring this piece out. The silver work is lovely with raised details throughout. A very fine sword.

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Very fine Ottoman Yataghan sword with heavy silver scabbard. This sword measures 31 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of large Walrus Ivory ears with lovely red coral beads and decorative silver strap work. The forward curving blade with gold koftgari decoration to one side and a gold kotgari Arabic inscription to the opposite side. The inscription with some wear and untranslated. The blade with some oxidation and small areas of pitting. Lovely heavy silver scabbard with fine decoration at the throat of the scabbard and nice raised decorations throughout. A very nice and complete example.

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Top quality Ottoman dagger with Tugrah Hallmarked scabbard and wootz blade.

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Ottoman coral encrusted dagger. This very nice knife is made similarly to some of the Ottoman Pala out there with coral encrusted scabbards. I have an example in my gallery with a very similar base metal as this dagger. The dagger measures 16 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle and scabbard appear to be made of a gilt copper or some other base metal with some type of gilt wash to it. The front of the dagger is covered in red corals and some blue turquoise stones. One bezel is missing the coral. The front is also covered in wire fillagree work. The back of the scabbard does not have any stone work but the metal has been chased all over with intricate floral work. The blade is slightly curving and double edged. There is gold koftgari at the base of the blade on both sides as well as an Arabic inscription on both sides. There are twin fullers down the center portion of the blade on both sides. A little bit of staining on the blade and a little rusting at the very tip of the blade. The Ottoman Coral encrusted Pala swords are very desirable and this would make an excellent companion piece to any of those.

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Large silver gilt Balkan Jambiya dagger with wootz blade. This exceptional knife measures 20 7/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle and scabbard are done in deeply carved gilt silver. The gilt is most present in the recesses now, but the silver work is superb and done in high relief. The double-edged blade with high median ridge sports lovely gold koftgari work at the base of the blade on both sides. The blade is wootz steel but the pattern is faint but you can see it throughout the blade A high quality jambiya knife.

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Fine Ottoman Kilij sword with gold inlaid inscriptions. This sword measures 35” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is rhino horn with a lovely honey brown color. There is a small, chipped area on one side. It is part of a small section that has a split in two areas. The cross guard with nice acorn shaped finials. Nice kilij shaped blade with gold inlaid inscriptions to both sides. The inscriptions are untranslated to date but nicely done. The blade is forged of wootz steel as evidence by the pattern visible in just a small area on one side of the blade. Seems the pattern has faded out in many areas of the blade perhaps due to lack of heat control during forging, but you can clearly see the crystalline structure in one area of the blade. Blade has some oxidation throughout. The scabbard with German silver or white metal mounts. The red velvet in the middle section is a later replacement. A fine kilij overall.

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Large Arab jambiya with wootz blade and handle. The handle is Persian, Qajar period, and is wootz. This sword originally came to me with a broken hilt that was replaced with this handle. The blade is long with gold inscription at the forte. The blade is forged from Sham wootz and is most likely Ottoman in origin. The scabbard mounts are Syrian and are silver koftgari. The red velvet is an antique velvet that was used to restore the tattered original.

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Silver Mounted Arabian Saif with Old European Blade. Good quality silver mounts with Arabic inscription on both sides of the top scabbard mount. The wide double edged blade with broad central fuller and talismanic markings. Blade is European and most likely 18th century.

Very fine example of an Omani Nimcha. The handle is ivory inlaid with gold foil discs and some red enamel inlays. Scabbard is mounted in a high quality silver. Saber style blade.

Fine Moroccan Koummya Dagger with Rhino Horn handle. This dagger measures 17” in total length. The handle is a big chunk of rhino horn and the handle mounts and scabbard are all German Silver. There are a couple of bug nibbles to the side of the handle on one side. The pommel cap, the ferrule and the scabbard all have very fine designs carved into them. The blade is above average for a Koummya but does have some pitting and some oxidation. A lovely Koummya overall.

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Unusual Sumatran Knife with fantastic twistcore blade. I am not sure how to classify this knife. I haven’t ever seen anything quite like it. I am not even sure it is Sumatran, but the handle and scabbard style have me leaning in that direction. The knife measures 12 7/8” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is a black carabao horn with floral carvings on the sides near the top and a ridged pommel. The guard is silver or a silver alloy with beaded rim. The blade is fantastic. It is very thick with a narrow section at the forte and then it has a deep belly. The blade is forged of multi-row twistcore, the pattern very vivid and clear. The pattern locks together like the pieces of a puzzle. Gives it a very attractive look. The very tip of the blade is broken. The scabbard is wood with a floral design carved at the throat and an unusual X marking on the spine of the scabbard at the very front. There are six bands is silver or silver alloy with beaded decoration in the center. A belt clip is attached on one side. A unique piece with a fantastic blade.

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19th century Sumatran Klewang sword that features an 18K Gold grip and ferrule. This sword measures 34 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle consists of the wood pommel with interesting carvings. Some wear to the high spots but in good shape overall. The grip section, ferrule and upper band are all high quality gold, 18K. The upper band with very finely chased decorations and the same for the ferrule. The midsection grip also with fine decorations to the surface. The wood beneath has shrunk just a tad so the gold bands slide just a bit. The blade is a laminated one. You can see some layering along the edge. The blade has some blisters and some other fatigue areas. It is a fairly thin and flexible blade. The wood scabbard, which most likely is original to the sword, was covered at some point in its life with leather. The work is very good and they chose to have a belt loop with tassels at the top. Perhaps it was still being worn at that time or this feature was added for display purposes. Very rare to find the gold wrapped grip.

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Fine Madurese Keris with twistcore pamor blade. This keris measures 18 3/4” when measured in its scabbard. Handle very finely and extensively carved from ivory. The blade is quite nice. The center panel is done in a twistcore pamor pattern with additional layering to each side. The scabbard has a lovely wood throat, the wood with a lovely patina, and a nicely carved winged horse on both sides. The stem is made from a silver alloy most probably nickel silver sometimes called german silver.

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High Quality Balinese Keris Sword with Gold Washed Silver Mounts. This is a large Keris and measures 26 3/4" in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is silver that has a gold wash. The silver work is superb judging by the quality of the figure, the details in the carvings and the expression of the face. There are colored stones or glass that is at the base of the handle and also in the mendak. The blade is black with a silver pamor of fine pattern with detailed gold vines and other gold decorated figures. There are also some gold vine and fruit (?) decoration on the top of the gangya. Really nice gold work. The scabbard has a large ivory wrangka with a long silver sleeve that also has been gold washed. The top has been decorated with a figure. The very bottom of the scabbard has been dented. A quality Balinese Keris throughout.

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Sumatran Keris Dagger with fine Ivory Hilt. The dagger measures 17 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is the Jawa Demam form and is a large chunk of ivory. Very well carved featuring detailed arms crossed and abstract birds head. Has a lovely yellowish patina. Fine triple ring brass or bronze mendak. The wavy blade with feathered pamor. There is an extremely interesting feature. The blade has copper or a copper alloy mixed in throughout. It is pictures and this is not rust. This is another metal. I’m unsure if this was used to fill in some worn away areas or if it was used and mixed in originally and from repeated cleanings some of the blade core has become exposed and it is this metal. In either scenario, I have not seen this before. The scabbard is wood with lovely grain.

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Superb Indonesian Javanese Golok short sword with rare thick twistcore blade. This sword measures 22 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is very finely carved from a brown wood in the form of a makhara with long upturned nose. There are two eye holes that were probably inlaid with bone or ivory at one point in time. The ferrule at the bottom of the grip is silver. The blade is impressive. First, it is very thick and heavy. Second, the body of the blade below the thick spine is forged from twistcore steel and then you have an inserted edge showing layering along the cutting edge. I can’t recall having seen a Golok with this thick and stout of a blade let along also with twistcore pattern. The scabbard has very finely grained wood veneers over a wood core and than with silver throat and silver bands. There is a broken piece of wood veneer at the very bottom of the scabbard. A very fine sword.

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Older African Mandingo Sword. This sword measures 30 3/4” in total length. There are several features to this sword that point to it being an older example. The patina to the leather is indicative of an older piece. Also, the native made blade is a better-quality example than what you typically find in mid to late 20th century examples. This example most likely dates to the early 20th century. The handle is leather wrapped with a tall brass pommel capstan. Well-made native blade with good thickness at the spine and a much stronger more rigid blade than normally encountered. The blade has a fair amount of oxidation and some rust patches. The scabbard is very nice with fine leather with great patina, lovely decorations and the shells and tassels are all lovely.

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Quality African Poto sword with fantastic scabbard. This prestige sword measures 26 1/2” from the bottom of the scabbard to the top of the pommel. The scabbard is very impressive for its size and quality. It measures 15 3/8” tall by 12” at its widest point at the top. Each side of the scabbard at the top sports three threaded screws. The scabbard has a wood core that is covered in leather and features brass tacks in an intricate design on the front and the back with fine stitching. The leather is in superb condition with only a small tear at the reverse side. The sword itself measures 25” long and the blade is 17” long and 4” at its widest point. There is lots of punch design work to the blade to go along with the open cut out work in the forte section and the two sharp projections on the sides of the blades to the slightly rounded tip. The handle is covered in brass and the pommel is a large, stitched leather ball that probably has talismanic material stuffed inside this ball. This is a fine Poto sword given its condition, quality of blade and the superb and large scabbard.

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African Chieftan’s prestige sword of the Ngombe. This impressive sword measures 30” in total length. The long handle has a grip wrapped in leather and then a tall tang extension that is wrapped in heavy copper wire. The very top of the blade is also covered in copper one missing section of copper. The blade’s shoulders measure 7” wide. It tapers down to a point where the lower section of the blade widens back out to 5” wide. The blade tapers and then swells back out again at the center and then goes double edged to the tip. There are some nice, incised lines throughout the blade. Well-made blade is rigid and has good weight to it. Blade shows some surface scratches and other signs of wear.

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This is a release from my private collection. It is a very fine, about as good as it gets, African Seme Sword of the Massai people. This sword measures 36 1/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood that has been wrapped in leather done in a way to give the grip a ribbed look. Very nice blade. It is very thick and four sided at the forte and remains that way until about 9” from the tip when it begins to flatten out from the thick four sided cross section. You still have a strong median ridge running to the tip but as the cross section flattens out you get some fullers or hollow grooves. Handling this old example one can imagine why these warriors were effective at dispatching lions. The scabbard is very nice. It is leather over wood, has the same cross section as the blade and features the original beaded belt. The stitching on the reverse of the scabbard is very fine and the leatherwork of the belt is very fine with red and white beads. The leather has dried and become fairly stiff but rare to have a complete scabbard in this kind of condition. You will be hard pressed to find a better example.

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African throwing knife of the Azande with Clan Markings. This throwing knife measures 18” when measured in a straight line top to bottom. The lower blade extension measures 8 3/4” when measured from the handle out to the tip. The upper blade extension measures 7 1/4” from the tip to where it joins to the straight blade section. The blade has very interesting clan markings throughout. On the upper extension there is a shield and two axes, on the short extension at the top there is an crocodile, on the lower extension there is a throwing knife and a sword and on the straight blade section there are numerous circular and line decorations. The grip is wrapped in some type of twine done in a complex weave. A great throwing knife with fantastic imagery.

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Superb African Recade, Ceremonial Axe of the Fon, Benin. This axe measures 22 1/2” in total length. The shaft is a hardwood with a lovely patina. The top shows Hyena with a Jeckyl in its mouth or at least that is what it looks like to me. The Hyena with a full mouth of sharp teeth. The Jeckyl with clenched teeth. There is an old chip to the upper lip of the Jeckyl but it must have happened a long time ago as the patina blends well with the rest of the wood. The eyes and ears have metal inserts (one ear on the Hyena missing). There are two brass star shaped plaques and another animal head, maybe a Water Buffalo. The back of the shaft has a small metal blade. The blade is 2 1/8” long and is 1 1/4” wide. The bottom of the shaft has a reeded brass collar with the bottom open to expose the bottom of the shaft. A rare and unusual item.

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Rare Sudanese Beja Hadendoa Dagger with Scabbard and Belt. Very rare to find these daggers complete with the belt. The knife measures 13 1/2” when measured in a straight line in its scabbard from the very bottom of the scabbard to the top of the handle. The handle is wood, in an I shape with two toned wood and nice ribbed carving along the side. The middle of the grip is wrapped in silver wire. The blade with upswept tip and medial ridge. The scabbard is leather with reptile skin added to the top and bottom of the scabbard. The scabbard is attached to the belt . The belt is leather and is supple and has a belt loop at the end. You hardly ever see these with the belt and in such good condition to boot. The belt with nice decorations.

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Fine and complete African kaskara sword. This sword measures 42 1/2” when measured in its scabbard keeping in mind that the sword does not go all the way into the scabbard because of leather shrinkage over the year. The gap is about 1 1/4” so the actual overall length of the sword in scabbard would be about 40 3/4” or thereabouts. The sword without the scabbard measures 39 1/2”. The handle is wrapped in silver with nice zig zag line decoration. Nice decorated pommel cap and blue tassle pom pom. Wide and thick steel cross guard. The blade with wide central fuller running the majority of the length of the blade. The scabbard is very nice. It is leather with decorations throughout. You also have the belt or shoulder harness attached. The top and bottom of the scabbard in white metal. The leather wings are attached to the ensemble via plastic ties. A very nice and complete Kaskara sword.

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African Nigerian Chamba Sword. This short sword measures 22 3/4” when measured in its scabbard. The handle is done in leather strips woven together for a tight weave with a domed shaped iron pommel. The crossguard is iron, thick and down turned. The blade is double edged with a medial ridge running almost the full length of the blade. The tip is rounded. the blade bend towards the tip and has some general unevenness throughout. Some oxidation is present. The scabbard is very nice. It is a very fine brown leather over thin wood with nice stitching to the reverse. The chape is done in reptile skin. there are leather bands around the base leather. Two of which form the suspension, which is now missing, and one is at the top of the reptile skin. A seldom encountered sword.

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Nice Rhino horn hilted Ethiopian shotel sword with an English blade. This sword measures 42 1/2” in total length when measured in its scabbard and going in a straight line from the tip of the scabbard to the very top of the handle. The handle is made from two sections of rhino horn. The rim of the pommel with a very translucent appearance. The outer rim of the pommel with some chips and dings. White metal dome cap with engravings located on top of the pommel. Lovely English made blade and one made for export to Africa. At the forte on one side is a deep stamp with the letters GR. Above the stamp it states “Made Expressly For W.H. Stromb, London”. Blade has very nice etching above these markings. The opposite side of the blade has an inscription in Amharic and then fine etching on the blade above that marking. There is a tag on the handle that states the inscription translates to “Made by Henry Wilkinson of King Edward VII, London”. I can’t verify the accuracy of the translation but quite possible. Nice to still have the scabbard. Interestingly, it is leather over leather. Less than half of the outer layer of leather remains revealing the inner layer of leather that is still intact. Also retains the original belt which does not often survive with these. A very nice example.

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Ethiopian Sword with Rhino Horn hilt and very fine blade. This sword measures 31” when measured in its scabbard and in a straight line from the bent portion of the scabbard to the top of the pommel. The handle is rhino horn done in two halves. The lower half and the upper half. There are a few chips and dings to the handle. On the top of the pommel is a silver cap and nail. The silver cap with some writing around the perimeter. Very unusual blade for an Ethiopian sword. In general form it reminds me more of Indian or Middle Eastern Swords. You have a thick spine down to a yelman like feature and then a long double edge section of blade. A fuller has been cut into the blade on both sides. Blade is quite sharp and has a very bright finish. You see brightly polished blades in India so this could be an Indian imported blade. The quality of the polish, fullering, etc. make this a very fine blade and about the best I have seen on an Ethiopian sword. The scabbard is leather. Some minor losses to the leather and the very tip of the scabbard have been bent and has now hardened in that position. Because the leather has shrunk a bit the blade draws slowly from the scabbard but does come in and out OK with a bit of effort.

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Silver mounted African Gile Sword of the Afar tribe. This nice example measures 21 3/4” in total length when measured in its scabbard. The handle is wood with a silver pommel cap and some silver buttons to the front of the grip. The lower portion of the grip with metal wire wrap. The pommel cap with beaded border and decorative line design. The wide curving blade with two central fullers with the fullers with roughed in design with the remainder of the blade in better polish but still exhibiting some scratches and other signs of wear. The scabbard is very nice. It is leather with a leather belt fancifully wrapped around the scabbard. The chape on the scabbard is in silver with big globular end to it. There is a half moon and star mark on one section of the silver work. Very nice workmanship to the chape overall. The silver is unpolished but appears to be at least coin silver quality.

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