Ethnographic Arms & Armour

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-   -   Zulu spear/knobkerrie 'combo'....Fantasy piece ?? (http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=9082)

katana 15th March 2009 09:54 PM
Zulu spear/knobkerrie 'combo'....Fantasy piece ??
 
3 Attachment(s)
This just finished on eBay......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=280320772028

Fact or fantasy ? anyone any ideas, thank you

Regards David

Lew 15th March 2009 10:58 PM
Saw this one but the fuzzy pics sent up red flags. Doesn't look Zulu to me.



Lew

colin henshaw 16th March 2009 12:11 PM
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My guess is its probably a real piece. Here's something I have thats a bit similar, with a squared iron shank and faceted knob finial. Could be from a bit further north, maybe Matabele or Venda ?

Regards

katana 16th March 2009 12:37 PM
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Thats a very nice spear Colin,
but the finial on yours is shaped, and looks to be ideal for extra grip. The knobkerrie 'end' of the eBay version would not aid grip. It could, possibly provide some weight to balance the spear. The 'knob' looks 'turned' (ie lathe), but , as Lew has said the pictures are fuzzy (perhaps deliberately :shrug: ). The shape of the spearhead is not typical Zulu, seems much more trianglated. The spearhead and metal shaft is stated as 13.5 " long, 3.5" of wirework with an OAL of 44". To use as a knobkerrie you would have to hold it on or above the wirework.....leaving approx a third of the entire spear pretruding below the gripping hand...which is likely to injure the 'wielder' in the heat of battle :shrug:

I have not seen any reference to Zulu's using such a weapon.
Although I like the idea of the spear/knobkerrie combo....I question its functionality in battle .....I believe this is likely either...

a ceremonial / dance piece or some sort of 'Victoriana' fantasy piece

I have just noticed that even though the pictures are poor...the 'knob' of the knobkerrie is 'shiny' and has a different look / colour to the shaft.....a later addition ??

Kind Regards David


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