Group of African spears, Batonka? Zambesi River area?

Tim Simmons · 28th March 2006, 05:31 PM

Nice pointy things, even 19th cent might be a little optimistic but one learns to accept that some militaria dealers usually add a century or two what ever.

katana · 28th March 2006, 07:20 PM

Hi Tim,
it does seem common that sellers often embellish an item with fanciful stories

I personally think late 19c/early 20c, but,that is just a 'feeling', the patina of the iron heads seems consistent with that sort of age. As does the remaining shafts.
I was hoping that this 'group' are a range of spearheads produced by the same tribe/culture, have you any ideas? I have never seen iron banding used to secure the head, before. Only the 'usual' (?), hide or wire (braided and whipped)

Luc LEFEBVRE · 28th March 2006, 10:06 PM

I've searched in "Waffen aus Zentral Afrika" Museum für Völkerkunde Stuttgart and "Ijzerwerk van Central-Afrika" H.Westerdijk book.
There are similar arrows heads but they are not tanged and secured by iron banding.
Luc

katana · 28th March 2006, 10:23 PM

Thanks for looking Luc

28th March 2006, 05:31 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	Nice pointy things, even 19th cent might be a little optimistic but one learns to accept that some militaria dealers usually add a century or two what ever.

28th March 2006, 07:20 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Tim, it does seem common that sellers often embellish an item with fanciful stories I personally think late 19c/early 20c, but,that is just a 'feeling', the patina of the iron heads seems consistent with that sort of age. As does the remaining shafts. I was hoping that this 'group' are a range of spearheads produced by the same tribe/culture, have you any ideas? I have never seen iron banding used to secure the head, before. Only the 'usual' (?), hide or wire (braided and whipped)

28th March 2006, 10:06 PM	#3
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	I've searched in "Waffen aus Zentral Afrika" Museum für Völkerkunde Stuttgart and "Ijzerwerk van Central-Afrika" H.Westerdijk book. There are similar arrows heads but they are not tanged and secured by iron banding. Luc

28th March 2006, 10:23 PM	#4
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Thanks for looking Luc