Antique African Salampasu Tribal Short Sword with Original Leather Scabbard.
A late 19th / early 20th Century Salampasu tribal short sword. Similar in style to the Roman gladius short sword, it has a broad double-edged blade. This example has a darkened central section to offset the hand-engraved central decoration. The hilt is leather covered and the pommel is of hand-forged and decorated solid copper. The original scabbard is leather-covered wood. Both sword and scabbard are in overall good antique condition with the leather displaying some wear in places. The sword inserts and withdraws smoothly. A fine collector's item.
The Salampasu sword is also known as Mbuku. It is a blade used by the Salampasu tribe from Central Africa in what is now the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. It was a widely used and valued tool in the area, and people like Chokwe, Kete, and Lwalwa used it frequently. Despite looking like a ceremonial and decorative sword, the Salampasu was a functional blade used heavily for combat.
Length (sword): 51cm
Length (blade): 35.5cm
Length (in scabbard): 53cm
