Zulu Weapons

drac2k · 17th May 2021, 05:46 PM

This week seems to be the week of acquiring African Weapons and I believe these 3 pieces that are Zulu. An axe, what I believe to be an old Zulu throwing spear with a broken haft, and a huge, wonderful Knobkerrie. It is the heaviest one that I own and well used, either from pounding fence posts or heads, others can judge.

thinreadline · 26th May 2021, 12:09 AM

Superb , I do agree , Zulu .

Helleri · 27th May 2021, 02:39 AM

They all definitely look South African. Given the Zulu are the largest ethnic group there chances are it's all Zulu as well. The Swazi is a little...Odd? Not as pronounced in it's shape as I'd expect. Very ong tang, subtle blade shape. Maybe intended to be used as a tool most of the time while still retaining weapon utility if needed?

Helleri · 28th May 2021, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helleri

They all definitely look South African. Given the Zulu are the largest ethnic group there chances are it's all Zulu as well. The Swazi is a little...Odd? Not as pronounced in it's shape as I'd expect. Very ong tang, subtle blade shape. Maybe intended to be used as a tool most of the time while still retaining weapon utility if needed?

[edit] Okay this axe was bothering me and I could swear I'd seen something very similar to it before in my reference material. So I've been digging and found something in one of my glossaries. The description says it's a Basuto axe (which is a Bantu ethnic group like the Zulu who live largely in Lesotho in South Africa).

drac2k · 30th May 2021, 03:46 PM

Thanks to all for the comments and I stand corrected & educated; it certainly looks like the Basuto axe that you have shown.

drac2k · 2nd June 2021, 09:26 PM

As I said before, I'm kind of on this African weapon streak. Here are 4 more clubs of which I believe that one is definitely Zulu; a nice example which I believe some idiot drilled a hole in the back to hang on a wall. I am thinking about getting a piece of hardwood dowel to fill the hole.
The other club with a face, I think it could be an African Go-go club. I went to the African weapon website and they had a similar example, however, theirs had an angry scowl, and mine has a frown. In my opinion, it has the balance and feel of a throwing club, but I couldn't find an example of Go-Go throwing clubs and I don't even want to tell you what I found when I first searched the web for "African Go-Go Clubs."
The other 2, I think that they are African, but I'm not sure.
Help

AndreasM · 5th June 2021, 05:38 PM

The axe is Shona and not Zulu.

drac2k · 8th June 2021, 04:49 PM

Thanks; still could use some help on the clubs.

17th May 2021, 05:46 PM	#1
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Zulu Weapons This week seems to be the week of acquiring African Weapons and I believe these 3 pieces that are Zulu. An axe, what I believe to be an old Zulu throwing spear with a broken haft, and a huge, wonderful Knobkerrie. It is the heaviest one that I own and well used, either from pounding fence posts or heads, others can judge. Attached Images

2nd June 2021, 09:26 PM	#6
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	As I said before, I'm kind of on this African weapon streak. Here are 4 more clubs of which I believe that one is definitely Zulu; a nice example which I believe some idiot drilled a hole in the back to hang on a wall. I am thinking about getting a piece of hardwood dowel to fill the hole. The other club with a face, I think it could be an African Go-go club. I went to the African weapon website and they had a similar example, however, theirs had an angry scowl, and mine has a frown. In my opinion, it has the balance and feel of a throwing club, but I couldn't find an example of Go-Go throwing clubs and I don't even want to tell you what I found when I first searched the web for "African Go-Go Clubs." The other 2, I think that they are African, but I'm not sure. Help Attached Images

26th May 2021, 12:09 AM	#2
thinreadline Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Wirral Posts: 1,204	Superb , I do agree , Zulu .

27th May 2021, 02:39 AM	#3
Helleri Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Boulder Creek, CA. Posts: 202	They all definitely look South African. Given the Zulu are the largest ethnic group there chances are it's all Zulu as well. The Swazi is a little...Odd? Not as pronounced in it's shape as I'd expect. Very ong tang, subtle blade shape. Maybe intended to be used as a tool most of the time while still retaining weapon utility if needed?

30th May 2021, 03:46 PM	#5
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Thanks to all for the comments and I stand corrected & educated; it certainly looks like the Basuto axe that you have shown.

5th June 2021, 05:38 PM	#7
AndreasM Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 9	The axe is Shona and not Zulu.

8th June 2021, 04:49 PM	#8
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,174	Thanks; still could use some help on the clubs.