African "throwing knives"

Pieje · 4th August 2016, 03:51 PM

The upper knife is probably not a Fang, but a KOTA knife (Fang birdheads have longer and straight handles). These were definitely not used as throwing knife, the balance is not good at all. These were in fact cutting tools/weapons, mostly used for ceremonial purposes (Perrois, 1985).

Jim McDougall · 4th August 2016, 06:56 PM

Excellent topic Marcus!!!
In "African Arms and Armour", Christopher Spring noted the characteristically western propensity to try to explain the use and dynamics of every curious and unusual weapon found in ethnographica. I do not recall offhand the details of that reference, but wanted to note it here as the discussion develops.

As far as I recall, it does seem that there were a degree of these which were actually used as weapons, and much as with thrown spears, they were somewhat expendable in initial 'shock action' in combat.
Despite that notable use, it also seems that in tribal warfare, the pitched battle was not always inevitable at the outset, and often fearsome looking weapons were brandished as adversaries faced off.

I think as Marcus suggests, a great course for discussion would be, examples we have determined were indeed used as weapons and thrown and which were dynamically improbable as projectiles.

4th August 2016, 03:51 PM	#1
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	The upper knife is probably not a Fang, but a KOTA knife (Fang birdheads have longer and straight handles). These were definitely not used as throwing knife, the balance is not good at all. These were in fact cutting tools/weapons, mostly used for ceremonial purposes (Perrois, 1985).

4th August 2016, 06:56 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Excellent topic Marcus!!! In "African Arms and Armour", Christopher Spring noted the characteristically western propensity to try to explain the use and dynamics of every curious and unusual weapon found in ethnographica. I do not recall offhand the details of that reference, but wanted to note it here as the discussion develops. As far as I recall, it does seem that there were a degree of these which were actually used as weapons, and much as with thrown spears, they were somewhat expendable in initial 'shock action' in combat. Despite that notable use, it also seems that in tribal warfare, the pitched battle was not always inevitable at the outset, and often fearsome looking weapons were brandished as adversaries faced off. I think as Marcus suggests, a great course for discussion would be, examples we have determined were indeed used as weapons and thrown and which were dynamically improbable as projectiles.