SOME NICE EXAMPLES AND A VALUABLE ADDITION TO THE REFRENCE.
THE DESIGN ON THE BLADE OF THE CURVED KNIFE DOSEN'T LOOK NAGA TO ME OTHER THAN THAT I CAN'T SAY, PERHAPS SOMEONE WILL RECOGNIZE IT.
THE CARVED FACE ON THE DAO HANDLE IS SOMETHING I HAVE NOT SEEN ON NAGA ITEMS BEFORE BUT IS A DECORATION CONSISTANT WITH HEADHUNTING SOCIETYS (I LIKE IT). WE CAN ONLY GUESS IF IT WAS CARVED AND PERSONALIZED BY THE OWNER OR ADDED TO MAKE THE ITEM EASIER TO SELL.
THE HEAD EITHER REPRESENTS A ANCESTOR OR A FRESHLY TAKEN HEAD. IF IT WERE A SKULL THE EYES WOULD NO DOUBT BE ROUND. HEADS OFTEN ARE REPRESENTED IN THE ART OF TRIBES THAT PRACTICED HEADHUNTING BUT THE DESIGN WAS NO DOUBT RESTRICTED BY TRIBAL TRADITIONS AND TABOOS AS TO WHERE AND WHEN IT COULD BE USED. IN MORE RECENT TIMES THE TRIBAL LIFE AND ITS TABOOS AND TRADITIONS HAVE NO DOUBT CHANGED ESPECIALLY NOW THAT HEADHUNTING IS NO LONGER PRACTICED.
I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED ABOUT THE FANCY HAIRY NAGA SPEARS. THE HAIR NEAR THE POINT WOULD SERVE TO KEEP BLOOD FROM MAKING THE ENTIRE SHAFT SLICK. THE OTHER SECTION LIMITS THE GRIP AND MAKES IT SUITABLE FOR A SHORT THRUSTING SPEAR FUNCTIONING LIKE THE ZULU SPEAR. SLIDEING TECKNIQUES AS USED IN CHINESE AND OTHER SPEAR FIGHTING TECKNIQUES WOULD BE ELIMINATED. THE HAIR WOULD ALSO MAKE IT A VERY POOR THROWING SPEAR. PERHAPS THERE ARE FILMS OF THE NAGA STYLE OF SPEAR FIGHTING TECKNIQUES.? THE SHORT SPEAR WITH THE BAMBOO HANDLE AND THE SPEAR WITH ONLY HAIR NEAR THE BLADE AND THE STEEL BUTT SPIKE COULD BE USED MORE FREELY.
THE USE, TRIM AND COLORS OF THE HAIR DOES MAKE THE NAGA SPEAR ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF SPEARS.
