The blade designs illustrated here and the next page - knife, sickle knife, throwing knife, short sword, and axe were not forged to be used as weapons. Their primary purpose was to display the power and privilege of people who held positions of authority.

Knife, trumbash, mambele, nambele, dup
Mangbetu - The Democratic Republic of the Congo
iron, wood, twisted pewter wire, 14.5"h x 8"w x 3"d

Life Force at the Anvil
The Blacksmith's Art from Africa

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