Maasai Ol Alem

[mvyrmnd]

My brother recently went on a trip to Kenya, and bought me a little present from a local market

This is a Maasai Ol Alem (Boy's Short Sword)

It's definately a 'user' not an ornamental piece made for tourists. The blade's been hand-ground, and is in a bit of a bad way, really, but the rawhide handle is in great shape (although a bit dirty). The sheath is wood, wrapped in rawhide, and was orginally (traditionally) red, which had faded over much time. There are a few spots where the red is still visible, but it's 99% gone. I have no idea how old it must be, or how many owners it's had, but I'l fairly sure it's carved up it's fair share of cattle and trees

Sword and Sheath


Close up of the handle


Close up of the blade


It's a fairly weighty thing... once sharp it would be quite a formidable thing.

[jzmtl]

Neat, and you know it's probably real, not something they made up to fool tourists.

[Ashley]

Different to say the least.

Sent from Ash forum mobile

[Sparky415]

I don't think its pretty enough to be a tourist piece

It looks like a 'Oh bugger we have killed him' knife,
'You throw the body to the lions an I will sell this knife to an Aussie tourist'

I would wipe it clean of fingerprints 

Are you going to sharpen it up M? 

[mvyrmnd]

I don't think its pretty enough to be a tourist piece

It looks like a 'Oh bugger we have killed him' knife,
'You throw the body to the lions an I will sell this knife to an Aussie tourist'

I would wipe it clean of fingerprints 

Are you going to sharpen it up M? 

Actually, there's what looks like a blood stain on the other side of the blade

I plan to try and sharpen it without destroying the grind marks. I haven't decided how to go about it yet though.

Here's the stain. It looks far more reddy/brown in real life.


I've since cleaned it, and it rubbed right off with a damp cloth

[Sparky415]

    Blood     
Quick, delete this thread, grow a beard and hide in the outback 

[mvyrmnd]

Until ASIO decide to DNA test my skanky old knife, let's assume it's cows blood

[Jmora]

how the smurf did your brother get that through australian customs?