Maasai Spear, tourist souvenir or real deal?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by RobT

Sajen,
I don’t know if the wood center section is a reliable indicator of age as it could have been replaced (maybe more than once) during the spear’s life time and thus be far newer than the metal parts. Conversely, even new wood can take on a good patina in a relatively short time (especially if it is deliberately treated to look old).

Hello Rob,

Yes, I agree that the wooden part could be replaced during the lifetime of the spear and surely would have been replaced by an old or antique spear.
I've had several of these so-called lion spears and I always bought only ones where the wood shows a dark and glossy patination. I am unsure if there could be a better judgment of the age of such a spear.

Best regards,
Detlef