A rare war sword of the Angami Naga. Heavy steel one piece construction of peculiar shape, the hilt with two iron crossguards, and a flattened pommel. On the crosspieces are two bamboo section applied with coarse hair perhaps bear or boar. The blade with a three pronged projection at the forte marked with striations, the length of the blade double edged, and terminating with a shaped point. A near identical sword was presented to the Royal Armouries by the East India Company in 1851, and is now in the collection at Leeds. This type of sword became obsolete after the 19th century. Northern Assam, 19th century. $reserved |
