African Spear ...Congolese ?

colin henshaw · 14th June 2011, 04:02 PM

Hi David

I think this type of spear is from the Lake Chad area - Northern Nigeria or Northern Cameroon. I have also seen something a bit similar from Madagascar.

Regards.

katana · 15th June 2011, 01:19 AM

Hi Colin,
thanks for your thoughts

Have you any pictures you could post ? I'm really stumped with this spear

Kind Regards David

colin henshaw · 15th June 2011, 05:23 PM

Hi David

The best I can lay my hands on at the moment is this illustration (on the far right), from "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika" by Museum fur Volkerkunde 1985. This example is described as Bornu.

Regards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Colin,
thanks for your thoughts

Have you any pictures you could post ? I'm really stumped with this spear

Kind Regards David

katana · 15th June 2011, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Hi David

The best I can lay my hands on at the moment is this illustration (on the far right), from "Waffen aus Zentral-Afrika" by Museum fur Volkerkunde 1985. This example is described as Bornu.

Regards.

Thanks Colin

,
indeed very similar. The spear length is quoted as 161.5 cms this might explain the longer socket ....due to the size, to re-inforce the connection with the shaft.

Kind Regards

tom hyle · 16th June 2011, 01:08 PM

There are a couple of differences between the spear we are asked about and the one in the illustration that I find meaningfull, despite an overall similar shape including relatively long nontapering sockets: first is that though the socket ends in a pointed shape in the illustration, it does not seem to indicate the cone, but two more abrupt bolster type lines that intersect. I do not think this is a version of the same feature; I think it is two different features. The second is more subtle, and is that the shoulders where the blade narrows are quite steadily rounded in the illustreation, whereas those on the question spear swing in to a very close approximation of a line that is perpendicular to the socket.

tom hyle · 7th July 2011, 03:04 AM

For an interesting photo comparison see ebay #360371961389 (ended)
There are a couple of daggers currently on ebay with the bolsters like this, but I have to wait for them to end to mention them specifically, and one of them is a perenial relist....
email me at notthattomhyle@hotmail.com and I'll give you those auctions and a couple other photo ones that are active.

tom hyle · 9th July 2011, 07:33 AM

BTW, the ebay item is an old photo of an African arab ox rider with a spear.

14th June 2011, 04:02 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Hi David I think this type of spear is from the Lake Chad area - Northern Nigeria or Northern Cameroon. I have also seen something a bit similar from Madagascar. Regards.

15th June 2011, 01:19 AM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Colin, thanks for your thoughts Have you any pictures you could post ? I'm really stumped with this spear Kind Regards David

16th June 2011, 01:08 PM	#5
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	There are a couple of differences between the spear we are asked about and the one in the illustration that I find meaningfull, despite an overall similar shape including relatively long nontapering sockets: first is that though the socket ends in a pointed shape in the illustration, it does not seem to indicate the cone, but two more abrupt bolster type lines that intersect. I do not think this is a version of the same feature; I think it is two different features. The second is more subtle, and is that the shoulders where the blade narrows are quite steadily rounded in the illustreation, whereas those on the question spear swing in to a very close approximation of a line that is perpendicular to the socket.

7th July 2011, 03:04 AM	#6
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	For an interesting photo comparison see ebay #360371961389 (ended) There are a couple of daggers currently on ebay with the bolsters like this, but I have to wait for them to end to mention them specifically, and one of them is a perenial relist.... email me at notthattomhyle@hotmail.com and I'll give you those auctions and a couple other photo ones that are active.

9th July 2011, 07:33 AM	#7
tom hyle Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 1,254	BTW, the ebay item is an old photo of an African arab ox rider with a spear.