Boa Zande Warrior Sword – Hand-Forged Central African Leaf Blade

Boa Zande Sword — A Hand-Forged Central African Leaf-Shaped Warrior Blade

This sword is the Boa Zande Sword — a hand-forged leaf-shaped Central African warrior blade of the Boa and Azande (Zande) peoples of the Congo basin and South Sudan. The leaf-shaped silhouette — a broad cutting belly tapering to a long thrusting point — was the iconic blade form of these peoples for centuries, carried by warriors and chiefs alike as both a functional sword and a marker of standing. The Everest Forge version from Everest Forge is a faithful hand-forged interpretation, built for collectors of Central African material culture and serious students of Iron Age African metallurgy.

Each blade is hand forged in Kathmandu, Nepal from 5160 high carbon spring steel — specifically reclaimed truck leaf spring — oil-tempered to working hardness, with a full tang. The standard configuration is a 22-inch leaf-shaped blade with a 6-inch rosewood grip fitted with brass collars at the top and bottom, and a hand-stitched leather scabbard with geometric tooling. Blade length is customisable from 18 to 36 inches before forging — the widest customisation range in our African sword collection.

The Boa Zande Sword — A Brief History

The Boa and Azande peoples of Central Africa — concentrated in what is today northern Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan — produced one of the most distinctive sword traditions on the African continent. The leaf-shaped blade form, with its broad cutting belly tapering to a long thrusting point, remained the iconic shape across centuries of regional production. Forged from locally smelted iron, the Boa Zande sword sat at the centre of Iron Age African metallurgy — a tradition of skilled metalworking that flourished long before European contact, and that produced edged weapons widely recognised in collector and museum literature today.

These leaf-shaped swords carried weight beyond their function as weapons. They served as marks of warrior status and leadership rank, appeared in ritual ceremonies, and were exchanged as objects of high value between communities. The geometric tooling visible on the scabbards of historical pieces — and reproduced on the Everest Forge version — is part of the same regional design vocabulary that shaped the broader Boa and Azande material culture, alongside related ceremonial blades like the Ngombe Ngulu of the neighbouring peoples to the south.

Why This Boa Zande Sword Stands Apart

Specifications

Customise Your Boa Zande Sword

Most details on this Boa Zande Sword can be specified to your preference before forging begins. Use the options on this page to build your blade, or contact us for anything outside the standard list.

Build My Boa Zande →

Hand-Forged, Not a Wall-Hanger

The Complete Central African Sword Collection

Who This Boa Zande Sword Is For

• Central African arms collectors — buyers building a Congo-basin or wider Central-African arms collection, looking for the canonical Boa and Azande leaf-shaped blade in real hand-forged steel.
• African material culture collectors — those drawn to the smithing and ceremonial traditions of the Boa, Azande, Ngombe, Mongo and neighbouring Central African peoples.
• Iron Age weapons enthusiasts — collectors interested in early-period and pre-industrial smithing traditions across the continent, of which the Boa Zande is one of the most consistent and visually distinctive examples.
• Reenactors and living history — Central African and Iron Age historical portrayals that need a period-correct leaf-shaped blade in real, hand-forged steel.
• Display pieces — the leaf-shaped silhouette and tooled-leather scabbard make the Boa Zande a striking wall-mounted display in any African arms cabinet.
• Gift buyers — a serious, lasting gift for a history enthusiast or African-arms collector, with optional engraving for names, dates or a crest.

How It Is Made

What Is Included

• One hand-forged Boa Zande Sword in 5160 spring steel
• Rosewood (or white-wood / horn) handle with brass collars at top and bottom (fitted)
• Hand-stitched leather scabbard with geometric tooling in your chosen colour
• Personalised engraving where requested
• Care guidance for the blade, handle, brass and leather

Shipping, Returns and Warranty

Every Boa Zande ships from Kathmandu, Nepal via DHL Express or FedEx International on a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) basis — duties and taxes are handled so there is nothing to pay on arrival. Typical delivery is 8 to 15 business days from order, including forging and processing time. Some countries restrict the import of swords above certain lengths; it is the buyer's responsibility to check local law before ordering.

Standard Boa Zande Swords carry a 30-day satisfaction guarantee in unused condition and a 6-month warranty against manufacturing defects. Custom and personalised pieces are forged to your specification and are non-returnable. Full details are on our Shipping and Returns and Warranty and Returns Policy pages.

Caring for Your Boa Zande Sword

Wipe the blade clean after handling and apply a light film of mineral or blade oil to protect the high carbon steel from moisture. The brass collars on the grip will develop a patina over time — wipe them clean with a soft cloth, and polish lightly with a brass polish only if you prefer the bright finish. Treat the leather scabbard occasionally with a leather conditioner to preserve both the leather and the tooled geometric pattern. Store the blade out of the scabbard in dry conditions for long-term keeping, since trapped humidity can mark a carbon blade.

Frequently Asked Questions