Inauthentic Prestige Knife in Sheath
In the style of the Baule, Ivory Coast
Steel, wood, spondylus shells, leather, copper

At first glance, this Baule prestige blade appears old, lavishly decorated, and flamboyantly shaped. However the blade is of modern manufacture, most likely in Europe, and there are problematic elements elsewhere (which I call red flags) that add up.

The handle and crossguard are composed of two separate pieces of old wood (incorrect, red flag); possibly one original handle that was broken, and possibly two old broken handle pieces now married together. The sheath is authentic and old, however some of the red spondylus shells are attached with old leather, and others – likely added at a later date – are attached with copper wire (red flag).

The blade is attached with two rivets to a tang that goes through the end of the wood handle (incorrect, red flag). Baule blades are manufactured to be convex on both sides, however the blade here is convex on one side and concave on the other (incorrect, red flag). Like many other replica blades manufactured in recent decades in Europe, the surface of the iron is heavily scarred with acid to simulate age (big red flag). Also, the blade shows no signs of being drawn out at the forge in the traditional manner, or of any significant age or pitting (red flag).

17.5 in :: 44.5 cm

InventoryID #13-1990

Not For Sale