Nice Old Tuareg Spear?

[Lew]

Hi Tim,Freddy and All

This nice old spear arrived today! It looks like a late 19th century Tuareg spear? It's in great condition the seller was able to separate the three pieces so no cutting of the shaft took place :D I popped everything back together and it now has a place of honor in my trophy room. Let me know what you think?



Lew

[Tim Simmons]

Hi Lew, very nice spear, may also be Sudanese.This is my all metal Tuareg lance, note the mail penetrating blade.The spikes at the base of the blade have been bent in, shame. I dare not do anything about it.Tim

[Flavio]

Hello friends, very beautiful spears! :)
Hello Lew your spear don't seems to me Tuareg. The spear of Tim is tipical Tuareg, yours could be from other region like East Africa or Sudanese like Tim says. Anyway great piece!!

[Flavio]

Maybe Shilluk or Somali?

[Lew]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the input. The reason I thought it was Tuareg is that Artzi has one listed on his website and mine is a dead ringer compared to his.
http://www.oriental-arms.co.il/item.php?id=1713


Lew

[Ferguson]

Very nice!

Steve

[Freddy]

I think Tim is right. It looks more Sudanese to me, too.

[Jim McDougall]

Hello Flavio,
Interesting illustrations! Could you please cite the reference? :)

Best regards,
Jim

[Lew]

Hi Jim

The photos in question come from African Arms and Armor by Christopher Springs.

Lew

[Flavio]

Hello Jim, Lew is right. From the same source some Fulani (north Nigeria - south Niger) guys with tuareg like spears and swords.

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Lew and Flavio,
Thanks very much guys!! I didn't recognize the photos :)
Best regards,
Jim

[thinreadline]

This is an example of a similar spear / lance from my own collection .. I always had it down as Sudanese , but would also welcome opinions .
It is 190 cm long , blade inc socket is 50 cm with the greatest blade length being 9 cm . The butt is a flattened almost fish tail shape .

[Lew]

I would say yes Sudanese for sure. :)

[Gavin Nugent]

Nice pieces, I purchased these a little while back. Picture from the sale.

[thinreadline]

Nice pieces, I purchased these a little while back. Picture from the sale.

Superb shield and broad bladed spear .. very nice find. The top spear looks Zulu .

[thinreadline]

I would say yes Sudanese for sure. :)
Yes thanks Lew ... what length is yours ?

[Gavin Nugent]

Superb shield and broad bladed spear .. very nice find. The top spear looks Zulu .

Thanks Rich,

The top one will find a new home in the coming months, however the spear and shield make for a very dramatic display in the dining room.

Gav

[thinreadline]

Thanks Rich,

The top one will find a new home in the coming months, however the spear and shield make for a very dramatic display in the dining room.

Gav

'Lucky is the man who can display his shields in the dining room' ( old Wirral proverb I just made up )
Richmond

[Gavin Nugent]

'Lucky is the man who can display his shields in the dining room' ( old Wirral proverb I just made up )
Richmond

It is strange the ways in Slacks Creek...I can only put two swords in the dining room but all the shields and spear I can muster can line the walls in the common areas....it seems she who must be obeyed likes spears and never stops telling me either....

[thinreadline]

It is strange the ways in Slacks Creek...I can only put two swords in the dining room but all the shields and spear I can muster can line the walls in the common areas....it seems she who must be obeyed likes spears and never stops telling me either....

Now that's very interesting ... as here in Wirral my other half likes daggers & swords but is not so keen on spears and shields ! Strange are the ways of women . However we both must thank our lucky stars as at least they like some weaponry around the house .... most of my pals have to smuggle it in !
PS ... did you ever see the pic I posted showing my wife's bedroom dressing table ... littered not with make up and jewellery , but with her dagger collection !

[Gavin Nugent]

I believe I did Rich, many moons ago now. Great to see you back in the thick of things and those of the fairer sex...best left untouched ;-) there are some very astute members here :-)

[Martin Lubojacky]

The shield is Fundj. Excellent condition !!!

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks Martin. I saw Wolf had the same attribution in his reference pages...however I had not seen it anywhere else nor can find anything else about it... :shrug: Is the broad spear considered to also be Findj?

[Martin Lubojacky]

Hello Gav,
The shield is also in the book "African Shields" by Zirngibl. (I have also one - bought in "army shop" in Prague a few years ago...)

I am of the opinion the spear with broad spearhead is old Massai from the 19th century. Allegedly - before the opening of the export of iron rods to East Africa at the beginning of 20th century (used for long slender spearsheads), the Massai used to use this broad heavy spearheads.
Regards,
Martin