Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

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

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 17th July 2014, 12:32 PM   #1
colin henshaw
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
Default Sahel lances

Hi

Here are a couple of new acquisitions forumites might like to see - two long spears or lances, probably from the Sahel area ? Judging from their length, maybe for use on horseback ?

Can anyone help to pin down their area of origin more accurately and/or provide further information ? Any useful references would also be of help. Should anyone have comparable examples do please post them...
Attached Images
      
colin henshaw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17th July 2014, 01:37 PM   #2
Iain
Member
 
Iain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 1,680
Default

Hi Colin,

I'd attribute both to North Nigeria or Cameroon. The ones I have are similar to the second one you show and the butt cap also reminds me strongly of brass work from that region. Adamawa etc.

See http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=15391 which includes a scan from waffen aus zentral-afrika.

Both you show are very nice examples! I am quite jealous.
Iain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th July 2014, 12:28 PM   #3
colin henshaw
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
Default

Hi Iain

Many thanks for your comments and link, glad you like the lances. Never saw that type of brasswork to the butt before.

I would like to highlight another interesting feature to one lance - there is a small copper inlay to the tip, per attached images. Do you think this is to fill a flaw in the metal or could it have some sort of talismanic meaning ??

Regards.
Attached Images
  
colin henshaw is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20th July 2014, 02:30 PM   #4
Iain
Member
 
Iain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 1,680
Default

Hi Colin,

Usually the brass inserts I've seen seem quite obvious and carefully done round dots. This looks a little more like a repair? Perhaps filling in a forging flaw?
Iain 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 08:56 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.