Three spears for comment

[erikscollectables]

Originally Posted by Henk

I bought three spears.

Any ideas about their origin?

The first is Batak to me the second also North Sumatran - maybe Aceh or also Batak - the third is a riddle....

[katana]

The third spear does seem African to me.....possibly a Zande 'makrigga' . There seems to be a fine wire 'woven' collar, which is similar to some decoration found on African weapons.....could you post a better picture of the 'collar' ?

Regards David

[Henk]

David,

I hope these pictures give you the information you want. And of course I hope you can enlighten us

The shaft could be cane like Rick mentioned in the other thread of texspearchunker. Or maybe an african bamboo specie. The typical bamboo knots are missing on this shaft.

Regards, Henk

[katana]

Hi Henk,
that is the type of wire-work I have seen on a few African spears....the wire 'coiled' (spring like) around a central wire and then wrapped around the shaft. However, I am sorry I cannot remember the origins of those spears at the moment ...will do some 'digging' The very fine wire wrapped above is probably 'telephone' wire or coil windings from small electric motors. I do not think it very old ....my guess around mid 20th C.

Kind Regards David

[Henk]

David,

Hope you can dig up the info. Would apreciate it very much.

The very fine wire is yellow copper also. Was telephone wire or coil windings from small electric motors not red copper wire? I used to break up some of that stuff in my younger years with friends in an attempt to do some technical time spending I cann't remember seeing yellow copper wire in those things then.

Your age guess could be very correct. It would surprise me if this one is much older.

Thanks and regards, Henk

[Jim McDougall]

Actually many southern Sudanese spears did use bamboo, and from I understand this was from Nuba regions. This barbed style spear does seem to resemble some Sudanese spears, though it does seem rather sheet like steel and more likely fairly modern. Interesting on the coiled wire also, and how surplus or salvaged materials are always put to use in these ways, incredibly industrious.
It does seem that Zande, as David suggested might be quite possible also, as they are situated in regions of southwest Sudan, along with Congo regions in the northeast part, and the influences mentioned might well be a factor.

All best regards,
Jim

[Henk]

Jim,

Thank you for your input. Although the blade is rather thick it isn't as far as i can see a forged blade but a sheet like steel blade like you noticed.

Thanks and regards, Henk