The Northern Sansibar Sword, sometimes mistakenly known as the Zanzibar Sword, is an African sword, mainly from the Saudi Arabian/African border line area. If there is a historical connection between the Filipino version of the Sansibar and the Zanzibar, it is presently unknown.
The Sansibar was officially born in Leyte in 1881 before Spain sold the Philippines to America through a treaty. The sansibar was mainly, and is still used, by the river men who cut bamboos for use as floaters for their "bangka" or boats, for local traveling. These same boatsmen also travel the seas to cross to the other islands in the Philippines. That is how the Sansibar design reached other islands within the Philippines. You will see various popular designs of the Sansibar sword...approximately 5 different designs in the various islands where the Sansibar had found a home.
The name Sansibar was first called "pang sibak", in which "pang" means "for" and "sibak" means "to chop" in Filipino dialects. So, pang sibak means "for chopping." Later, the term evolved into "pang sibar" which means the same in Tagalog. Other explanations are "san sibak," meaning "one" (san or isan or isang) and "chop" (sibak) so to put the two words together, "san-sibak" means "one chop!" Much later, the name sansibar was adopted even though every Filipino dialect differs on most every island. The sound and the pronunciation of the word "Sansibar" changed until the occupation by America ...and then the word "Sansibar" was used as the standard name for this particular sword design.
This particular history is only one version, supported by the beliefs of the Filipino people. Any other history of this sword may not be well known since more popular swords like the "Katipunan" and "Pinute" were used by the katipuneros. Those swords are widely used in everyday tasks as tools and for survival, so the Sansibar's image, shape and style was temporalriy forgotten. Then again, the Sansibar was also used by many of the katipuneros for all out combat purposes due to its perfectly engineered balance and lightning speed.
These newly forged "Northern Sansibars" are a fine new addition to our previous 5 full sized Sansibar collection and have shorter blades by approximately 4 to 5 inches. They are extremely quick, in-fighting blades, yet are extremely solid with full quarter inch spines at the guard, as well as the #2 having a unique Spanish influenced hand guard. The Northern Sansibars - Beautiful, yet deadly!
