Inauthentic Epalang Knife
In the style of the Mbuun / Yanzi, D.R. Congo
Electroplated copper, wood, snake skin, copper, brass
Provenance dates back to 1980

Like so many inauthentic objects, my conclusion on this epalang knife is not based on iron-clad evidence, but rather the accumulation of incorrect details, which I call “red flags.” In general, the shape of the handle, flow of the blade, and the flattened outer-edge of the blade are all correct (The shape of the blade does not match that of the most desirable examples, but is not incorrect).

The handle is elaborately decorated, which isn’t problematic, however, this handle, like many other replicas, is completely covered so that absolutely none of the wood surfaces can be examined. By hiding 100 percent of the wood, it is impossible to gain insights about the age of the wood and the extent of handling, and importantly, to ensure that the tang of the blade exits through the bottom of the handle, which is correct for this type. While the blade had a very snug fit with the handle, a hard tug revealed that this last detail was a red flag – the tang does not travel through the bottom of the handle.

The second and most significant red flag with this blade is found in the materials used: the blade is composed of copper, which was then electroplated to resemble iron. A copper epalang blade would indeed prove to be quite rare and valuable, but for some reason, this copper blade was altered to appear to be something more common. The stress fractures in the blade are characteristic of copper, and the blade is not magnetic. Another electroplated copper epalang was sold at auction in 2016.

I am aware of another example with a closely-related handle, which could have come from the same workshop. Aside from that example, this handle is somewhat of an outlier, not conforming to traditional designs, especially the snakeskin.

13.25 :: 34 cm

InventoryID #13-2114

Not For Sale