Sahel lances

[colin henshaw]

Hi

Here are a couple of new acquisitions forumites might like to see - two long spears or lances, probably from the Sahel area ? Judging from their length, maybe for use on horseback ?

Can anyone help to pin down their area of origin more accurately and/or provide further information ? Any useful references would also be of help. Should anyone have comparable examples do please post them...

[Iain]

Hi Colin,

I'd attribute both to North Nigeria or Cameroon. The ones I have are similar to the second one you show and the butt cap also reminds me strongly of brass work from that region. Adamawa etc.

See http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15391 which includes a scan from waffen aus zentral-afrika.

Both you show are very nice examples! I am quite jealous.

[colin henshaw]

Hi Iain

Many thanks for your comments and link, glad you like the lances. Never saw that type of brasswork to the butt before.

I would like to highlight another interesting feature to one lance - there is a small copper inlay to the tip, per attached images. Do you think this is to fill a flaw in the metal or could it have some sort of talismanic meaning ??

Regards.

[Iain]

Hi Colin,

Usually the brass inserts I've seen seem quite obvious and carefully done round dots. This looks a little more like a repair? Perhaps filling in a forging flaw?