African throwing knife ?

[Lew]

This just ended.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-AFRICAN-THROWING-CURRENCY-BLADE-beautifull_W0QQitemZ150045504554QQihZ005QQcategory Z37947QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Lew

[Tim Simmons]

I rather fancy you did well.

[Flavio]

Very nice!! Congratulations!! :) It's a good period for you, Lew ;) !!!

[Freddy]

Very nice piece............You sniped me, Lew ! :eek:

Oh well, next time I'll have some more luck :rolleyes:

Freddy ;)

[katana]

Good price...nice piece Lew,
interestingly a 'Discovery' programme about the British Museum, had a section regarding African throwing knives. The type you have have recently acquired is now considered unlikely a throwing Knife. One of the museum's researchers was investigating the throwing knife phenomena and had been talking to Tribesmen (cant remember the Tribe) whom carrying this style of knife (over the shoulder) He wanted to see the technique (of throwing) and the 'flight' of the knife. They(the tribal members) were amazed and confused as to why anyone would want to throw something so valueable. He likened it to him throwing his camcorder to see if it was aerodynamic.............so there is the probability that newer litrature will 'de-classify' this type of knife from being a 'throwing' knife........

If the programme is repeated I will try and discover the Tribe/tribes name/names....

[Congoblades]

Very elegant form... I have always thought that this was a currency weapon only, PAKUDO ? from Dem. Rep. Congo

[Tim Simmons]

I believe this form is found other a vast band of sub Saharan/equatorial Africa. This version is from North East Nigeria/North Cameroon.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/jamhappy/PK001.jpg

[katana]

Hi Tim, Bill,
I was wondering whether there are any theories as to the form of this type of knife. Tim's example has the 'stylised' look of Arabic script ...below is Allah in script form.....notice the curves and form

[Tim Simmons]

I am unaware of any Islamic influence to the origin of these artifacts. Some of the people that they are attributed to are subject to modern Islamic dominance, not all I might add. The origins are Animistic, pre-Islamic and are said to represent animal forms such as snake and scorpion. The Islamic influence on the west African Animists is less forceful and more diffuse it appears.

[katana]

Thanks Tim......it was just a thought...

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

Nice Matakam TK Lew
Luc