Sabre knife

This knife was inspired by the design of fully functional Central African throwing knives, yet it most likely served as a prestige emblem that was never meant to be thrown. While throwing knives have woven leather handles that can bear the impact without damage, this style has a more fragile wooden handle. The shape of the knife accentuates its ineffectiveness as a weapon, as the smith created a deliberately off-kilter, forward-leaning blade rising from the handle. The hooklet that is always present on the aft side of the stem above the handle is also unique to this style of knife. While there are many sources that describe this blade type as a throwing knife or hand-held weapon, its extravagance, delicate composition, dull edges, imbalance, and flamboyance testify to its purpose purely as a symbol of status. Indeed, even the small details such as the notched stem seem to allude to the functionality of throwing knives, yet serve only as symbols of prestige.

This style of blade has been attributed to smiths and patrons who identify as Bekwil,  Njem, Konabem, Bumali, or Gbaya, who live in the Central African Republic, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, or Gabon.