Sudanese spears of Mahdist Period 1881-1899

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Edster

Tim,

My opinion is based thusly. If Jim's floor tiles are 12 X 12, the blade length is of that scale. The blade is riveted to the shaft, not very strong. Plus, the shaft is around a foot long, certainly too short and out of balance with the blade for two handed close combat. Better battle options were available.

Best,
Ed

Ed, I gotta say again, Holmes pales next to your forensics!! Purely elementary right? but I sure never thought of the 'tiles standard' .
As you say, while this blade is substantial, I always thought it too large and without any sort of ribbing etc, plus as you note, the shaft which would fail on impact.
Coupled with the notable applied decoration/exhortations etc. which seem more aligned with courtly character (aside from the crudely etched thuluth on the kaskaras and sundry arms from Omdurman and Khartoum shops).

Best
Jim

PS: In rechecking the notorious tiles, they were 16x16" .