Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > Ethnographic Weapons

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 25th January 2019, 03:24 PM   #1
thinreadline
Member
 
thinreadline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
Default Mystery spear ?

Any thoughts on this spear . To me it looks a bit touristy but would welcome opinions...
Attached Images
    
thinreadline is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th January 2019, 04:14 PM   #2
kronckew
Member
 
kronckew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,145
Default

Pics of blade, please.
An overall pic would be nice too.
kronckew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th January 2019, 05:08 PM   #3
thinreadline
Member
 
thinreadline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kronckew
Pics of blade, please.
An overall pic would be nice too.

Here you go ....
Attached Images
  
thinreadline is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th January 2019, 07:37 PM   #4
kronckew
Member
 
kronckew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Room 101, Glos. UK
Posts: 4,145
Default

Cool. It looks like a sub-Saharan, east African spear, possibly Central African Republic/So.Sudan/West Ethiopia. The large broad blade spears could be used not only to stab, producing ghastly damage but hew like two-handed axes.

I remember reading a story about a Sheban Queen's bodyguard who carried one, and in defending her from pirates, lopped off limbs and even heads with his. Doesn't look overly touristy to me. Smiths in the area still make spears for use by the locals as well as selling them to the tourists (probably at a far higher price).

Is that an iron counterweight at the butt end?

I seem to recall a similar one on a now concluded auction in North Manchester not long ago that went for a decent price, but shipping it to me would have been outrageous, and it's over the limit I'm willing to drive, so I passed.

Last edited by kronckew; 25th January 2019 at 07:49 PM.
kronckew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th January 2019, 09:06 PM   #5
colin henshaw
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
Default

duplication
colin henshaw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25th January 2019, 09:08 PM   #6
colin henshaw
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
Default

Nice spear, I like it and don't think its a tourist piece. From the Sahel area, maybe Hausa, Northern Nigeria or around there. The leather sheath is good, unusual. I've seen similar zig-zag type incised decoration on daggers from the area.
colin henshaw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th January 2019, 10:24 PM   #7
thinreadline
Member
 
thinreadline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by colin henshaw
Nice spear, I like it and don't think its a tourist piece. From the Sahel area, maybe Hausa, Northern Nigeria or around there. The leather sheath is good, unusual. I've seen similar zig-zag type incised decoration on daggers from the area.
Thanks Colin ... much appreciated. I was veering towards that location , but you have a better idea of that part of the world than me.
thinreadline is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26th January 2019, 10:25 PM   #8
thinreadline
Member
 
thinreadline's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Wirral
Posts: 1,204
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kronckew
Cool. It looks like a sub-Saharan, east African spear, possibly Central African Republic/So.Sudan/West Ethiopia. The large broad blade spears could be used not only to stab, producing ghastly damage but hew like two-handed axes.

I remember reading a story about a Sheban Queen's bodyguard who carried one, and in defending her from pirates, lopped off limbs and even heads with his. Doesn't look overly touristy to me. Smiths in the area still make spears for use by the locals as well as selling them to the tourists (probably at a far higher price).

Is that an iron counterweight at the butt end?

I seem to recall a similar one on a now concluded auction in North Manchester not long ago that went for a decent price, but shipping it to me would have been outrageous, and it's over the limit I'm willing to drive, so I passed.
thanks for that ... very useful info.
thinreadline is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.