Double Ngulu Sickle Blade – Hand-Forged Central African Ceremonial Sword

Double Ngulu Sickle Blade — A Hand-Forged Central African Ceremonial Sword

This sword is the Double Ngulu Sickle Blade — also called the Ngolo, Ngwolo or Mbeli na Banzi in the languages of the peoples who carried it — a hand-forged Central African ceremonial sword of the Ngombe people of the Congo basin. The Double Ngulu's compound silhouette is unlike anything else in African material culture: a parallel-fullered straight upper blade flowing into a dramatic twin-sickle lower section — an open circular ring at the mid-point and a forward-curving sickle hook below it — all forged from one continuous piece of steel. The Everest Forge version from Everest Forge is a faithful interpretation built for serious collectors of Central African ceremonial blades.

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 handle is a rosewood (or white-wood) grip fitted with an ornate decorative ceremonial pommel. The leather scabbard is cut to accommodate the dramatic compound blade silhouette. The standard blade is 18 inches, and other lengths from 16 to 24 inches can be specified before forging.

The Double Ngulu — A Brief History

The Double Ngulu takes its name from the Ngombe people of what is today the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is also recorded in the literature under several other names — Ngolo, Ngwolo and Mbeli na Banzi in the languages of the peoples who carried it. Across the Congo basin, the Ngulu sword tradition produced some of the most distinctive ceremonial blades anywhere on the African continent. The Double Ngulu's compound silhouette — combining a fullered upper blade with a twin-sickle lower section — is closely related to the Bango blades of the neighbouring Lobala people, reinforcing the broad cultural reach of this design vocabulary across Central Africa.

The Double Ngulu has sometimes been mischaracterised in popular sources as an "executioner's sword". The serious ethnographic record — including the work of researchers Gosseau and Elsen, widely cited in collector and museum literature — is clear that this was not primarily a weapon of violence. The Double Ngulu was a marker of rank, prestige and ceremonial authority, worn or carried by chiefs and important elders during rites of passage, dances, and as visual declarations of standing. The work that went into a Double Ngulu — including brass and copper tack decoration, and engraved detailing applied while the blade was both hot and cold — is the work of status objects, not utilitarian weapons.

Why This Double Ngulu Stands Apart

Specifications

Customise Your Double Ngulu

Most details on this Double Ngulu 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 Double Ngulu →

Hand-Forged, Not a Wall-Hanger

The Complete Ngulu Family Collection

Who This Double Ngulu Is For

• Ngulu-family collectors — buyers who already own or are building toward a Central African Ngulu pairing, alongside the canonical Ngombe Ngulu Prestige Sword.
• Central African arms collectors — those building a Congo-basin or wider Central-African arms collection, drawn to the most distinctive and most visually striking forms in African blade craft.
• African material culture collectors — collectors of the metalwork and ceremonial-blade traditions of the Ngombe, Lobala and neighbouring Central African peoples.
• Display pieces and wall centerpieces — the Double Ngulu's compound silhouette is one of the few sword forms that genuinely commands a room on its own. Few wall pieces match it.
• Gift buyers — a high-value, lasting statement gift for a serious history enthusiast or African-arms collector, with optional engraving for names, dates or a crest.
• Film, theatre and production — full-weight authentic steel for historical productions and African-set period work where a visually distinctive blade is essential.

How It Is Made

What Is Included

• One hand-forged Double Ngulu Sickle Blade in 5160 spring steel
• Rosewood (or white-wood) grip with decorative ceremonial pommel and collar (fitted)
• Leather scabbard in your chosen colour, cut to the compound blade profile
• Personalised engraving where requested
• Care guidance for the blade, handle, pommel fittings and scabbard

Shipping, Returns and Warranty

Every Double Ngulu 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 or shapes; it is the buyer's responsibility to check local law before ordering.

Standard Double Ngulus 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 Double Ngulu

Wipe the blade clean after handling and apply a light film of mineral or blade oil to protect the high carbon steel from moisture. Pay particular attention to the inside of the ring opening and the inner curve of the sickle hook, as these areas can collect dust and humidity if not wiped down. The decorative pommel will develop a patina over time — wipe it clean with a soft cloth, and polish it lightly only if you prefer the bright finish. Treat the leather scabbard occasionally with a leather conditioner, and store the blade out of the scabbard in dry conditions for long-term keeping.

Frequently Asked Questions