Strange knife/axe from Congo

[Congoblades]

Hi, I'm new on this intresting forum. I’m looking for more information about two knives/axe’s, they where collected in Congo early 1900. I can’t find any info about this type of weapon. :confused:

[Flavio]

Hello Congoblades, welcome to the forum!!! These are very strange!!! I never see somethings like these before!!!!! :eek:

[katana]

Hi Congoblades, very functional looking.......but I've never seen this design before.....congrats

[Congoblades]

Hi Congoblades, very functional looking.......but I've never seen this design before.....congrats

Thanks, very functional indeed... to crush some skulls...
I searched the web and some books for many hours, couldn'n find anything that looks close.

[Freddy]

Hi Congoblades, welcome to the forum. Where are you from ? Perhaps we already know each other.

I already saw a similar African weapon. It took some time to find it again, but look at this one :

http://www.mambele.be/knife_detail.php?tribe=&region=&name=&jczn=Throwing&met=s&number=0500&rowno=88

That's the one, no ?

By the way, this is a very nice website if you're into African weapons.

Freddy ;)

[katana]

http://www.mambele.be/knife_detail.php?tribe=&region=&name=&jczn=Throwing&met=s&number=0500&rowno=88



The knife is catergorised as a throwing knife.....to me....I would have thought that the handle would be unnecessary.....so perhaps wrongly described??

Also the 'arc' of the blade is 're-inforced' with a 'cross-piece', which suggests that it requires more strength, as would be needed in combat. I don't think a throwing knife would need the bracing.....unless it is to balance and aid the flight of the knife , if thrown.

[Tim Simmons]

What a super thing. You can see that it has been a struggle to mantain heat and make this weapon. I wish it were mine.

[The Double D]

Is the inside arc of the blade sharp?

[Freddy]

Not all weapons which are put in the category 'Throwing knife' are actual throwing knives. A lot of these weapons, especially those with wood or even ivory handles, evolved into status symbols.
They weren't actually used for throwing.

A real throwing knife will have a handle made of a material that can't be damaged when thrown, for example leather, hide or even cloth.

Here are two examples :

The first one is a typical Ngbaka/Ngombe throwing knife. This weapon is called : ZA.
The handle is made of animal skin (some of the hair is still there).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1773-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1774.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1775.jpg


The other throwing knife is from the Zulgo tribe inb East-Sudan. It's handle is made of a piece of cloth tied to the metal with some cord.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1776.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1777.jpg

[Congoblades]

Hi Congoblades, welcome to the forum. Where are you from ? Perhaps we already know each other.

I'm from Erpe, don't think we know each other, there is an other collector in my neiberhood who you might know, J. :)

I already saw a similar African weapon. It took some time to find it again, but look at this one :

That's the one, no ?

By the way, this is a very nice website if you're into African weapons.

Freddy ;)
Yep, that's the one, I visited this website also, I didn't see it :rolleyes:
Thanks.

[Congoblades]

Is the inside arc of the blade sharp?

Yes, the side of the main blade, this is sharp both sides.

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

Very nice and rare Ngombe TK, congratulations !
Some other Ngombe TK:
http://lulef.free.fr/html/ngbaya_1.html
Luc

[Freddy]

Do you notice the similarity in decoration on the throwing knife shown by congoblades and that shown by Luc ? They both have engraved triangles.

[Congoblades]

Very nice and rare Ngombe TK, congratulations !
Some other Ngombe TK:
http://lulef.free.fr/html/ngbaya_1.html
Luc
I have seen them before :) beautyfull T knives... and the rest ofcourse...
Intresting knives on Ngombe2, I have one simular as picture 1 but with a different kind of handle, I will post it soon.
Greets

Do you notice the similarity in decoration on the throwing knife shown by congoblades and that shown by Luc ? They both have engraved triangles.

Freddy, You must be right, most of my items are from the same "region" I have more knives with simular decoratian, triangles...

[Mapico1]

Hi,I know in the Guido Poppe collection this is called Ngombe but to me the handles look like Yakoma,also the design with dots looks typical Yakoma.
The Yakoma's are situated also in the North of Congo to the right of the Ngombe and Sango.Also the quality of the iron looks Yakoma....
Danny :)

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

The area of production of this kind of TK regroups the Gbaya-Ngbaka, the Ngbandi, the Ngombe and the Mbanja.
The Ngbandi include the Sango and the Yakoma.
And the Mbanja are known to have excellent blacksmith who works for the Ngbandi and the Ngbaka.
And the Yakoma are known for their works (forging) for the Ngbaka.
Nothing is simple in Africa...

So Danny is right ;) the handle looks like a Yakoma one.
http://lulef.free.fr/html/yakoma.html
or Sango
http://lulef.free.fr/html/sango.html

And Freddy see the triangle engravings on the blade, a characteristic of the Ngbaka, and the dots of the Yakoma.
So it seems to be a good mix !
In fact I'm not convinced that it's a throwing knife, they never have a handle made of wood (fragile).
Luc