View Full Version : Mystery spear ?
thinreadline
25th January 2019, 03:24 PM
Any thoughts on this spear . To me it looks a bit touristy but would welcome opinions...
kronckew
25th January 2019, 04:14 PM
Pics of blade, please.
An overall pic would be nice too.
thinreadline
25th January 2019, 05:08 PM
Pics of blade, please.
An overall pic would be nice too.
Here you go ....
kronckew
25th January 2019, 07:37 PM
Cool. It looks like a sub-Saharan, east African spear, possibly Central African Republic/So.Sudan/West Ethiopia. The large broad blade spears could be used not only to stab, producing ghastly damage but hew like two-handed axes.
I remember reading a story about a Sheban Queen's bodyguard who carried one, and in defending her from pirates, lopped off limbs and even heads with his. Doesn't look overly touristy to me. Smiths in the area still make spears for use by the locals as well as selling them to the tourists (probably at a far higher price).
Is that an iron counterweight at the butt end?
I seem to recall a similar one on a now concluded auction in North Manchester not long ago that went for a decent price, but shipping it to me would have been outrageous, and it's over the limit I'm willing to drive, so I passed.
colin henshaw
25th January 2019, 09:06 PM
duplication
colin henshaw
25th January 2019, 09:08 PM
Nice spear, I like it and don't think its a tourist piece. From the Sahel area, maybe Hausa, Northern Nigeria or around there. The leather sheath is good, unusual. I've seen similar zig-zag type incised decoration on daggers from the area.
thinreadline
26th January 2019, 10:24 PM
Nice spear, I like it and don't think its a tourist piece. From the Sahel area, maybe Hausa, Northern Nigeria or around there. The leather sheath is good, unusual. I've seen similar zig-zag type incised decoration on daggers from the area.
Thanks Colin ... much appreciated. I was veering towards that location , but you have a better idea of that part of the world than me.
thinreadline
26th January 2019, 10:25 PM
Cool. It looks like a sub-Saharan, east African spear, possibly Central African Republic/So.Sudan/West Ethiopia. The large broad blade spears could be used not only to stab, producing ghastly damage but hew like two-handed axes.
I remember reading a story about a Sheban Queen's bodyguard who carried one, and in defending her from pirates, lopped off limbs and even heads with his. Doesn't look overly touristy to me. Smiths in the area still make spears for use by the locals as well as selling them to the tourists (probably at a far higher price).
Is that an iron counterweight at the butt end?
I seem to recall a similar one on a now concluded auction in North Manchester not long ago that went for a decent price, but shipping it to me would have been outrageous, and it's over the limit I'm willing to drive, so I passed.
thanks for that ... very useful info.
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