Throwing knife

[Freddy]

I found this one on ebay two weeks ago. It arrived on Friday. It's a throwing knife (?) which is, according to mambele.be, used by the following tribes : Guduf, Lamang, Margi and Matakam. All living in Cameroon.

I already saw similar knives, but strangely this one is made of aluminium. Due to the material used, it weighs next to nothing. Wouldn't be of any use as a weapon, so I guess it's more a dancing knife. Could be used as a ceremonial piece, too.

What I like about it, is that it's very well made. It's not just a flat piece cut from an aluminium plate. The back of the blade is flat, while the front has a 'ridge'. If I would cut the blade in half :eek: (won't do it, though ;) ), I would see a small triangle.
Moreover, the entire blade is decorated with geometric lines.

The handle is made of some kind of woven material. Can't make out what it is.

The total length is 47 cm. The top of the blade measures 14 cm.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1123.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1112.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1113.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/Afbeelding1114.jpg

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

Hi Freddy,
I think it's a recent Marghi knife made for dance, in the good tradition of african recycling metal .
Here is one on my website
http://lulef.free.fr/html/tk_kirdi_3.html
and another I've just put on ebay
http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/Couteau-de-jet-MARGHI-Sud-Tchad-Afrique_W0QQitemZ160043263105QQihZ006QQcategoryZ74 86QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Luc

[Freddy]

Luc, could you give me a picture of the handle of your Marghi throwing knife ?

What is is made of ?

[Luc LEFEBVRE]

It's made of bands of textile and leather braiding strip.
Luc