Ingassana, throwing blade.
 

While playing in the sunshine today I came across this throwing knife blade. Quite heavy 58cm from tip to tip average thickness 4mm. I think it is possibly Ingassana, southern Sudan. It was very rusty. It appears never to have had a handle. Although it is tempered/hardened it may have just represented currency. Presumably the decoration has some meaning "look out here comes trouble :D". Freddy showed something similar some years ago with a cloth wrap handle. I do not think that would work with this example. It is the snake form I have read about. I also got a spear today, how lucky I am. Will post that next. Tim

Hello Tim,

what you have is, if Jan Elsen is right, a sickle knife from DRC. You found it among the Meje and Makere, living at the upper Aruwimi and Rubi. It has normal a handle of wood or also ivory.
Both typs of Ingessana throwing knifes are showing on the attached picture.

Wolf

Thanks Wolf, great name by the way.

I think you are right I been looking in Zirngibl's Afrikanische Waffen and seen smaller knives with the very same shape. What a shame this does not have an ivory handle, as you can see the tang is untouched, must be currency. Tim

This is a page from Jan Elsen's Tribal Arms Monographs. Did I do well :D the luck of the devil :rolleyes: I have number 2.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...y/Newfind1.jpg

I forgot to mention, if this is that rare, I got it for exorbitant sum of 5 portions. Not bad at all. Tim

I think it's really rare Tim, I never saw any other that yours ! Except the one in the book.
Very Good purchase.
Luc