Inauthentic Onzil Knife with Long Handle
In the style of the Fang, Gabon
Forged iron, wood
Modern iron blade with 19th century wood handle

There are many African blades that are manufactured in such a way that the iron blade extends through the bottom of the handle, be it wood or ivory. This forever secures the handle to the blade, ensuring that the only way to separate the two elements is by destroying one of them. 

The so-called bird head knives of the Fang and Kota, however, are designed differently. The part of the iron that is inserted into the handle simply tapers to a point and never protrudes through the bottom of the handle. This makes it much more challenging to determine if a handle and blade are an original pair.

This example is decidedly convenient, because the iron blade clearly doesn’t match the wood handle. The handle is old, carved in a traditional style, thoroughly oxidized, and clearly original. The iron blade, while manufactured in the correct, traditional manner, is too small, too thin, and aesthetically incorrect. The proper forging technique alludes to the iron being manufactured in Africa.

The iron on this example is clearly a poor fit for the handle—there is a visible gap between the iron and wood where the blade meets the handle. Simply put, it’s clear that this undersized and incorrect blade is a replacement, matched with an old, original handle.

The important takeaway from this piece is that because the iron is obviously wrong in a number of ways, it is easy to identify. However, there are undoubtedly a number of comparable examples with much more convincing replacement blades that have gone undetected. Because of the way in which Fang and Kota blades enter the handle with a simple taper (and don't extend through the bottom of the handle), they can be interchanged without difficulty. 

14.25 in :: 36 cm

InventoryID #13-1151

Not For Sale