Early 20th C Zulu walking stick ??

katana · 5th July 2010, 02:57 PM

Well, the stick immediately sank like a stone. Hi Graeme, there is a slight 'reddish' tinge to some areas of the lighter coloured grain, but I do not think its 'natural' to the wood.

Can I conclude that this is indeed Zulu .... and does late 19th -early 20th seem reasonable date wise ?

I am still intrigued with the spiralling. As I mentioned before it provides excellent grip if the stick was used 'sword-like' and is positioned where it provides a good balance. With the Zulu tradition of stick fighting and knobkerrie use... I wonder whether such 'defence canes' were used using techniques from both disciplines ?

Regards David

kronckew · 5th July 2010, 03:19 PM

most works on using a cane i've seen combine swordlike strikes and thrusts with the ball (or handle) acting as a pommel and counterbalance & as something to prevent the cane being pulled out of your control. they also emphasise using the pommel as a striking surface, including holding it nearer the opposite end and swinging it like a mace or knobkerry. of course these strikes could also be used with a sword. holding the blade and thwacking an opponent on the head with the pommel were well know techniques back when they might mean survival. a cane can and should be used with both hands active.

there is a well known cane maker in the states that uses a spiral fluting all the way down the canes as a trade mark. the edges, bumps and lumps increase the damage done by a strike using them.

Linky for reference.

graeme gt · 6th July 2010, 03:15 PM

Hi here are my sticks one is more or less the same as yours giving a date is hard as one of mine is dated 1903 but you wouldnt think that to look at it .

katana · 6th July 2010, 03:58 PM

Thank you Wayne and Graeme for your input

,

Wayne, I knew that European 'cane fighting' advocated the 'sword-like' use. But, with regards to the Zulu......I have always thought it unusual that there are very few examples of Zulu swords ....and put this down to the fact they used the IKLWA as the medium range weapon of choice. So thought it might be an alien concept (to the Zulu) to brandish a 'wooden' sword.

Graeme, thats a nice selection of 'sticks', thank you for posting them. The 'dated' example (silver ?) does seem to suggest that Zulu sticks were indeed 'brought back' and embellished.
I do know that the late Victorians had a 'facination' with the Zulu ....I would also surmise that a number of Zulu manufactured items were in the kit bags of returning soldiers after the Boer War.

Kind Regards David

Tim Simmons · 6th July 2010, 05:37 PM

Lovely, like big conkers to little boys.

kronckew · 6th July 2010, 06:07 PM

zulu stick fighting:

Linky to youtube

few more videos there.

lots of interesting vids on cane fighting, irish stick fighting, etc.

katana · 9th July 2010, 05:49 PM

Just acquired another stick, not Zulu. Carved head serves as the knob, some impact damage, but still quite nice. Spiralling all done by hand, lots of wear, heavy wood....probably Ebony. Again nicely balanced as a 'sword'. Any ideas as to region would be nice

....thank you

Regards David

.

6th July 2010, 03:15 PM	#3
graeme gt Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 97	Hi here are my sticks one is more or less the same as yours giving a date is hard as one of mine is dated 1903 but you wouldnt think that to look at it . Attached Images

6th July 2010, 06:07 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	zulu stick fighting: Linky to youtube few more videos there. lots of interesting vids on cane fighting, irish stick fighting, etc. Last edited by kronckew; 6th July 2010 at 06:17 PM.

9th July 2010, 05:49 PM	#7
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Just acquired another stick, not Zulu. Carved head serves as the knob, some impact damage, but still quite nice. Spiralling all done by hand, lots of wear, heavy wood....probably Ebony. Again nicely balanced as a 'sword'. Any ideas as to region would be nice ....thank you Regards David . Attached Images

5th July 2010, 02:57 PM	#1
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Well, the stick immediately sank like a stone. Hi Graeme, there is a slight 'reddish' tinge to some areas of the lighter coloured grain, but I do not think its 'natural' to the wood. Can I conclude that this is indeed Zulu .... and does late 19th -early 20th seem reasonable date wise ? I am still intrigued with the spiralling. As I mentioned before it provides excellent grip if the stick was used 'sword-like' and is positioned where it provides a good balance. With the Zulu tradition of stick fighting and knobkerrie use... I wonder whether such 'defence canes' were used using techniques from both disciplines ? Regards David

5th July 2010, 03:19 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	most works on using a cane i've seen combine swordlike strikes and thrusts with the ball (or handle) acting as a pommel and counterbalance & as something to prevent the cane being pulled out of your control. they also emphasise using the pommel as a striking surface, including holding it nearer the opposite end and swinging it like a mace or knobkerry. of course these strikes could also be used with a sword. holding the blade and thwacking an opponent on the head with the pommel were well know techniques back when they might mean survival. a cane can and should be used with both hands active. there is a well known cane maker in the states that uses a spiral fluting all the way down the canes as a trade mark. the edges, bumps and lumps increase the damage done by a strike using them. Linky for reference.

6th July 2010, 03:58 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thank you Wayne and Graeme for your input , Wayne, I knew that European 'cane fighting' advocated the 'sword-like' use. But, with regards to the Zulu......I have always thought it unusual that there are very few examples of Zulu swords ....and put this down to the fact they used the IKLWA as the medium range weapon of choice. So thought it might be an alien concept (to the Zulu) to brandish a 'wooden' sword. Graeme, thats a nice selection of 'sticks', thank you for posting them. The 'dated' example (silver ?) does seem to suggest that Zulu sticks were indeed 'brought back' and embellished. I do know that the late Victorians had a 'facination' with the Zulu ....I would also surmise that a number of Zulu manufactured items were in the kit bags of returning soldiers after the Boer War. Kind Regards David

6th July 2010, 05:37 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Lovely, like big conkers to little boys.