Zulu Assegai descriptions

Tim Simmons · 16th December 2006, 07:13 PM

These are rather nice. I like the iKhebezane a good find. I wonder if this blade is obtained through trade or is it made by Zulu smiths? Very interesting i would not of thought this was from so far south. I would have said Mashona land or further north. You are getting a nice colletion going.

The Double D · 16th December 2006, 07:41 PM

A.T. Bryant credits the iKebezane assegai to Swazis, Natal Natives and Mpondos. All Nguni's as well as the Zulu's if I under stand the anthropolgy right. All those tribes surround Zululand.

By trade, by conquest, to the victor go the spoils. Food, cattle, weapons and women.

I will be spending Christmas at Isandlwana Lodge and they have arrange for me to visit a blacksmith. I hope he can shed some light on this.

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2006, 12:00 PM

As Southern African is at the top again I just have to add this. I got it today at one of those military junk fairs, I really should not have spent any money at all!!!

especially as it was not much of a bargain. So I post it to get good mileage.

Douglas does that book with all the spear info mention anything about sticks and staffs?

ggoudie · 17th December 2006, 01:11 PM

Nice stick Tim is it a real club or some form of status ?

The Double D · 17th December 2006, 03:30 PM

I'll start another topic with Zulu sticks and the descriptions from Krige. Then we can keep this topic assegais and have a separate for knobkerries. Got a couple of new ones to show you.

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2006, 03:39 PM

Thank you ggoudie, It must be a prestige item as it is far too light to be a weapon of war. It may also be more of an East African item. This picture from Men-at-Arms series "Warrior Peoples of East Africa 1840-1900" shows an early Turkana warrior in 1888. The stick here has strong similarities and searching knobkerries, I have found nothing as distinct as this but many beautiful Southern clubs of varied form. So I think it safe to assume Turkana, which I like all the more for the money I should have kept safe from the demon inside.

17th December 2006, 12:00 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	not a spear but a stick As Southern African is at the top again I just have to add this. I got it today at one of those military junk fairs, I really should not have spent any money at all!!! especially as it was not much of a bargain. So I post it to get good mileage. Douglas does that book with all the spear info mention anything about sticks and staffs? Attached Images

17th December 2006, 03:39 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Thank you ggoudie, It must be a prestige item as it is far too light to be a weapon of war. It may also be more of an East African item. This picture from Men-at-Arms series "Warrior Peoples of East Africa 1840-1900" shows an early Turkana warrior in 1888. The stick here has strong similarities and searching knobkerries, I have found nothing as distinct as this but many beautiful Southern clubs of varied form. So I think it safe to assume Turkana, which I like all the more for the money I should have kept safe from the demon inside. Attached Images

16th December 2006, 07:13 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	These are rather nice. I like the iKhebezane a good find. I wonder if this blade is obtained through trade or is it made by Zulu smiths? Very interesting i would not of thought this was from so far south. I would have said Mashona land or further north. You are getting a nice colletion going.

16th December 2006, 07:41 PM	#2
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	A.T. Bryant credits the iKebezane assegai to Swazis, Natal Natives and Mpondos. All Nguni's as well as the Zulu's if I under stand the anthropolgy right. All those tribes surround Zululand. By trade, by conquest, to the victor go the spoils. Food, cattle, weapons and women. I will be spending Christmas at Isandlwana Lodge and they have arrange for me to visit a blacksmith. I hope he can shed some light on this.

17th December 2006, 01:11 PM	#4
ggoudie Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 29	Nice stick Tim is it a real club or some form of status ?

17th December 2006, 03:30 PM	#5
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	I'll start another topic with Zulu sticks and the descriptions from Krige. Then we can keep this topic assegais and have a separate for knobkerries. Got a couple of new ones to show you.