Help identifying pole type weapon !!!

Taffjones · 19th April 2013, 03:50 PM

Hi Guys,
Friend of mine brought this item to show me recently. Not sure about it,
so I thought I would put it to the forum for help and discussion. Its overall length is 226cm and the head measures 58cm from the tip to the start of the copper wire binding and the bottom spike section measures 58cm. The item feels comfortable in the hand and not unwieldly to move around. All of the item exhibit wear and good age patina. The head is decorated in a mixture of crosses and chevrons and blind holes
Thanks in advance
Darren

Taffjones · 19th April 2013, 04:04 PM

Hi Guys,
the reason I am posting it here is because of the cross type decoration which I gather is typical of African type weapons.
Thanks
Darren

manteris1 · 19th April 2013, 04:49 PM

hi taffjones, its african maybe sudan......................jimmy

Taffjones · 20th April 2013, 10:05 AM

Thanks for your reply Jimmy,
Waiting for some more people who are familiar with this type of item to comment, keeping an open mind at the moment but if it is African is it an item that has been adapted from another continent/region or has it been manufactured locally from scratch.
Thanks
Darren

Taffjones · 20th April 2013, 10:15 AM

Here is a picture of the wire wrapping on the shaft
Thanks
Darren

colin henshaw · 20th April 2013, 10:23 AM

Nice looking piece - but I doubt if it is African. Has an Indian look to it, or failing that, South-East Asia somewhere.

Regards.

Iain · 20th April 2013, 11:12 AM

I agree with Colin. Its not really saying African to me. The rounded, bulbous parts of the spear shaft and the wire seem to point towards India?

Gavin Nugent · 20th April 2013, 11:58 AM

A strange item indeed.

Based purely on the timber, I would say East Indian, only in that many Naga spears have the same timber.

Gavin

Taffjones · 20th April 2013, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the input so far have carried out a few image searches in google looking for india and south east asia pole arms and nothing similar coming up.
Thanks
Darren

Gavin Nugent · 20th April 2013, 12:41 PM

The butt spike is very Indian and the timber appears to be black palm...

, not something typically seen on an African spear....

Gavin

19th April 2013, 03:50 PM	#1
Taffjones Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abertridwr Posts: 50	Help identifying pole type weapon !!! Hi Guys, Friend of mine brought this item to show me recently. Not sure about it, so I thought I would put it to the forum for help and discussion. Its overall length is 226cm and the head measures 58cm from the tip to the start of the copper wire binding and the bottom spike section measures 58cm. The item feels comfortable in the hand and not unwieldly to move around. All of the item exhibit wear and good age patina. The head is decorated in a mixture of crosses and chevrons and blind holes Thanks in advance Darren Attached Images

20th April 2013, 10:15 AM	#5
Taffjones Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abertridwr Posts: 50	Here is a picture of the wire wrapping on the shaft Thanks Darren Attached Images

19th April 2013, 04:04 PM	#2
Taffjones Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abertridwr Posts: 50	Hi Guys, the reason I am posting it here is because of the cross type decoration which I gather is typical of African type weapons. Thanks Darren

19th April 2013, 04:49 PM	#3
manteris1 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 114	hi taffjones, its african maybe sudan......................jimmy

20th April 2013, 10:05 AM	#4
Taffjones Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abertridwr Posts: 50	Thanks for your reply Jimmy, Waiting for some more people who are familiar with this type of item to comment, keeping an open mind at the moment but if it is African is it an item that has been adapted from another continent/region or has it been manufactured locally from scratch. Thanks Darren

20th April 2013, 10:23 AM	#6
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Nice looking piece - but I doubt if it is African. Has an Indian look to it, or failing that, South-East Asia somewhere. Regards.

20th April 2013, 11:12 AM	#7
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,680	I agree with Colin. Its not really saying African to me. The rounded, bulbous parts of the spear shaft and the wire seem to point towards India?

20th April 2013, 11:58 AM	#8
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	A strange item indeed. Based purely on the timber, I would say East Indian, only in that many Naga spears have the same timber. Gavin

20th April 2013, 12:12 PM	#9
Taffjones Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Abertridwr Posts: 50	Thanks for the input so far have carried out a few image searches in google looking for india and south east asia pole arms and nothing similar coming up. Thanks Darren

20th April 2013, 12:41 PM	#10
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	The butt spike is very Indian and the timber appears to be black palm... , not something typically seen on an African spear.... Gavin