Daiklaves of Africa

[The MG]

A few of them, at least.

In case any of them don't show, just quote me for the URLs.

[CycloneJoker]

God I love this kind of stuff so much. *_*

[The MG]

The curved one appears to be an Ethiopian shotel, judging by its curvature and grip.

You appear to be correct. As for the other one, it seems similar to Ingonda "currency" swords, and might have served a similar purpose – a sign of prestige and wealth rather than a weapon.

Now, here's a Maasai seme sword.

[SurlySeraph]

The third blade is an executioner's sword from the Brooklyn Museum's Arts of Africa collection, presumably from the Central African Republic. The second blade is from Zaire¹; the first pair, I know nothing of.

The curved one appears to be an Ethiopian shotel, judging by its curvature and grip. I don't know what the one with the thick head is.

[HaplessWithDice]

But i thought they would be a nice touch, specially for those with a liking for Ironwood weapons.

Me Like. Very nice. Kinda reminds me of this

[Baaldam]

Examples of bordunas:



Those are not from Africa, but Brazil...



But i thought they would be a nice touch, specially for those with a liking for Ironwood weapons.

[That Other Guy]

I think I remember reading somewhere that these blades were entirely ceremonial and the whole concept of them being thrown was just a assumption on the part of European explorers and archaeologists. I cant remember where I read it though...

Hi! That is a type of mambele, which is a broad category of throwing daggers that have a large curved section and a backwards spike. The idea of them being decorative has some merit - the more fanciful and bizarre the number of prongs, the more likely it is to just be the blacksmith showing how good they were, and rich people would buy them as a mark of status. However, there are many more practical variations of mambele which are indeed throwing knives. Though you do have some larger variants which are used in close combat, these tend towards being reverse sabres.

Anyway, here are some cool example of pre-colonial Yoruba swords





and a more modern one

[The MG]

I added two more blades to the OP.
Or, I would, if there wasn't a limit on the number of images you can include in a single post. So...

Pretty sure the upper-right sword in the first picture is an Egyptian khopesh, which IIRC did see actual combat use and were pretty effective chopping blades. At least effective enough that most games I've played with them as separate weapon types list them in the "brutal" category, meaning better minimum damage.

It's not a khopesh -- those are a bit heavier, and more axe-like -- but it does seem to be a kind of sickle-sword.

[Ryumaru]

Pretty sure the upper-right sword in the first picture is an Egyptian khopesh, which IIRC did see actual combat use and were pretty effective chopping blades. At least effective enough that most games I've played with them as separate weapon types list them in the "brutal" category, meaning better minimum damage.

[CycloneJoker]

You want your weapon to be balanced so when you throw it, you hit your enemy with the pointy end, if all of it is pointy ends, balance is less of a factor.

Also, that throwing knife is incredibly phalic.

It's like the functional opposite of the chakr--er, Throwing Anus from Oglaf.

[While My Guitar]

They all seem like they would be relatively functional, well except maybe for the throwing knife with the points in every direction, that can't have very good balance...

You want your weapon to be balanced so when you throw it, you hit your enemy with the pointy end, if all of it is pointy ends, balance is less of a factor.

Also, that throwing knife is incredibly phalic.

[turkeygiant]

They all seem like they would be relatively functional, well except maybe for the throwing knife with the points in every direction, that can't have very good balance...

[CycloneJoker]

I think I remember reading somewhere that these blades were entirely ceremonial and the whole concept of them being thrown was just a assumption on the part of European explorers and archaeologists. I cant remember where I read it though...

Entirely possible, like how the one sword in the OP was meant for executions and not active combat. But it's nonetheless a fun thing to think about including the next time one, say, has a campaign take a trip 'round Harborhead way.

[turkeygiant]

Sub-Saharan Africa came up with some legitimately terrifying blades in the places that had the know-how for metalsmithing.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nr_5633-55.jpg This is a throwing blade, supposedly. Designed to maximize the chance that a sharp bit will be what hits the opponent when it reaches them.

I think I remember reading somewhere that these blades were entirely ceremonial and the whole concept of them being thrown was just a assumption on the part of European explorers and archaeologists. I cant remember where I read it though...

[CycloneJoker]

Sub-Saharan Africa came up with some legitimately terrifying blades in the places that had the know-how for metalsmithing.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nr_5633-55.jpg This is a throwing blade, supposedly. Designed to maximize the chance that a sharp bit will be what hits the opponent when it reaches them.