Knobkerrie
 

Just got this today. 27" long.

Thanks, Lew, for the help in getting it! :D

I don't know a lot about these. Comments?

Hi Bill,
can't help with the origins...but the wire work looks Southern African area, I have seen similar work (but not the 'bi-coloured effect on yours ...they usually are copper or sometimes, coloured telephone wire ) on the tanged type of spear (head binding), so Zulu is quite possible. It may be the pictures...but has the knobkerrie been varnished ?

Regards David

What looks like varnish is actually some lemon oil I used to clean it up a bit. I need to dry it off better. I would doubt this is telephone wire.

I have a spear that also has wire work on it, but it is not the 'bi-colored' wire like this one.

The seller claims it does come from South Africa and that his great grandfather, who served in the Royal Navy acquired it in 1903 and that the knobkerrie had something to do with the Zulu at Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift.

1903 would have been about 24 years after that famous battle. If this piece is that old -- which I guess is possible -- it is in very good condition.

The bicolored wire is often seen on knobkerrie's and spears in Zululand. All that I have seen carries one characteristic that yours doesn't. All I have seen is beaten, frayed and loose. I believe until some shows me different that the bicolored is older. How old, I don't know.

The old sailor who brought back could be absolutely right when he says it had something to do with the Zulus at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift...There were Zulus at Rorkes Drift and Isandlwana in 1903.

Very nice clean example. I am still waiting for a good wired one like this, at the right price. Could be from many people from SA, even Ngoni which makes a huge area.

Bill that is a super nice knobkerrie probably early 20th or late 19th century. Here is a link to some similar pieces which Tim had posted on another thread.

http://www.michaelstevenson.com/afri...nobkerries.htm

Lew

Thank you several times Lew for your kind assistance! :D :) :D

The link shows some pieces that really look like mine. Seems to look most like this one:
http://www.michaelstevenson.com/afri...html/11-27.htm

North Nguni

Saying Nguni is probably the best way to describe everything in the region.

http://countrystudies.us/south-africa/46.htm

Kind of like saying it's Scot when you don't know if its Mcleod or Nicholson.

You could fit a Lot of Scotlands in SA with Nguni up to the lakes. :shrug:

Here are some pictures of the original collector

the first was taken in 1905

The second in 1925 -- far right

the last in 1963. -- right

Very touching Bill and I am not joking this time :cool: . Just because a piece is clean and complete with very little ware does not mean it is not old.