Fabulous Disemboweling Awl

Tim Simmons · 27th November 2007, 07:09 PM

This is nice item I show it next to a big heavy knobkerrie so as to give some idea of how big it is. It is not made of heavy timber like the knobkerrie. I will not hazard a guess at what group of people it is from except only in very general terms of equatorial Central Africa, Southern Nigeria, Gabon, Congo? A cool thing with gut catching and pulling barbs. I am thrilled by it but then I do like this sort of thing

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Lew · 27th November 2007, 07:34 PM

Tim

I wouldn't think it so fabulous if you were on the receiving end of this thing

Lew

Tim Simmons · 27th November 2007, 08:01 PM

No Lew a ghastly end.
I have been giving this a going over with a x10 glass and I have changed my original opinion now that I have found that thread used in the stiching is silk. The use of silk is common in west Africa. I have not read of its use in Congo and so on.

Jim McDougall · 27th November 2007, 10:05 PM

Tim, you truly have a dark side

These barbed weapons are apparant in a number of places in Africa, and I think of spears with these in the Sudan. Not much for 'gut pulling' though, these are made this way to not come out, and the spears as used in warfare are expendable.

Best regards,
Jim

Freddy · 28th November 2007, 08:04 AM

Nice piece, Tim. Something I would go for, too. (Do I also have a twisted mind ???

I don't think you should consider this as a true weapon. It looks more like some kind of walking cane or ceremonial stick. A spike has been added to 'stick' it into the ground when need be. Why the spike has barbs, I don't know. Probably the owner/manufacturer liked it this way. Or he had some spare parts from a spear.

The piece shows some age, judging from the patina. It's in the right places. Also the break on one of the feet is quite old.

Nevertheless, this could be a terrible weapon.

I have a walking stick which is simpler in form. But the spike at the end is quite heavy and could do a lot of damage when used to stab or hit somebody.

Tim Simmons · 28th November 2007, 08:17 AM

I can see great potential for this as a two handed weapon at close range hitting with the knob and stabbing with the spike. A small penetration wound in the shoulder say only 3-4cm deep would be made all the more awful as the weapon was withdrawn or pulls the target completely off balance. Let alone a full stab to any body cavity

I think it is a very good old piece very possibly 19th century. The silk thread sewing the leather is what is known as Wild Silk produced in West Africa, fairly course as silk goes and white to brown in colour.

Nonoy Tan · 28th November 2007, 10:00 AM

Nice piece, Tim.

Here is an example of a tool used for digging soil (planting and harvesting root crops) from the Ifugao of Northern Luzon (Philippines). OAL: 34.0 cm. Eyes are inlaid copper pieces.

Comes in handy as a stabbing weapon too (when the situation calls for it).

yuanzhumin · 28th November 2007, 11:34 AM

Nonoy,
This is an absolutely beautiful item that you have here.
Very nice patina also !
Congratulations !
Yuanzhumin

Tim Simmons · 5th August 2010, 05:11 PM

Forgot this. One last thing from Oxford, more elaborate and sorry for the poor pictures but it is a very difficult place to take snaps. Not for pulling your guts out

27th November 2007, 07:09 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Fabulous Disemboweling Awl This is nice item I show it next to a big heavy knobkerrie so as to give some idea of how big it is. It is not made of heavy timber like the knobkerrie. I will not hazard a guess at what group of people it is from except only in very general terms of equatorial Central Africa, Southern Nigeria, Gabon, Congo? A cool thing with gut catching and pulling barbs. I am thrilled by it but then I do like this sort of thing .

28th November 2007, 10:00 AM	#7
Nonoy Tan Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 293	Nice piece, Tim. Here is an example of a tool used for digging soil (planting and harvesting root crops) from the Ifugao of Northern Luzon (Philippines). OAL: 34.0 cm. Eyes are inlaid copper pieces. Comes in handy as a stabbing weapon too (when the situation calls for it). Attached Images

5th August 2010, 05:11 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	Forgot this. One last thing from Oxford, more elaborate and sorry for the poor pictures but it is a very difficult place to take snaps. Not for pulling your guts out Attached Images

27th November 2007, 07:34 PM	#2
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim I wouldn't think it so fabulous if you were on the receiving end of this thing Lew

27th November 2007, 08:01 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	No Lew a ghastly end. I have been giving this a going over with a x10 glass and I have changed my original opinion now that I have found that thread used in the stiching is silk. The use of silk is common in west Africa. I have not read of its use in Congo and so on.

27th November 2007, 10:05 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,738	Tim, you truly have a dark side These barbed weapons are apparant in a number of places in Africa, and I think of spears with these in the Sudan. Not much for 'gut pulling' though, these are made this way to not come out, and the spears as used in warfare are expendable. Best regards, Jim

28th November 2007, 08:04 AM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nice piece, Tim. Something I would go for, too. (Do I also have a twisted mind ??? I don't think you should consider this as a true weapon. It looks more like some kind of walking cane or ceremonial stick. A spike has been added to 'stick' it into the ground when need be. Why the spike has barbs, I don't know. Probably the owner/manufacturer liked it this way. Or he had some spare parts from a spear. The piece shows some age, judging from the patina. It's in the right places. Also the break on one of the feet is quite old. Nevertheless, this could be a terrible weapon. I have a walking stick which is simpler in form. But the spike at the end is quite heavy and could do a lot of damage when used to stab or hit somebody.

28th November 2007, 08:17 AM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	I can see great potential for this as a two handed weapon at close range hitting with the knob and stabbing with the spike. A small penetration wound in the shoulder say only 3-4cm deep would be made all the more awful as the weapon was withdrawn or pulls the target completely off balance. Let alone a full stab to any body cavity I think it is a very good old piece very possibly 19th century. The silk thread sewing the leather is what is known as Wild Silk produced in West Africa, fairly course as silk goes and white to brown in colour.

28th November 2007, 11:34 AM	#8
yuanzhumin Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ex-Taipei, Taiwan, now in Shanghai, China Posts: 180	Nonoy, This is an absolutely beautiful item that you have here. Very nice patina also ! Congratulations ! Yuanzhumin