African throwing knife
 

This piece came in a lot which was sold as 'scap iron' on the internet. The lot was real cheap. And by this I mean.....REAL cheap ! ! ! :D :p :D

The picture on this auction site was bad, but I could recognize something familiar. Friday, my package weighing 15 kgs (!) finally arrived.

It contained a metal rattle, some metal snake currency (probably Lobi), a kind of metal bracelet with 4 snake heads (this one alone weighs 3,7 kgs) and fourth piece with a snake head and curved tail (mystery object).

And of course : the throwing knife. I had some difficulty in identifying this piece, but I think it comes from the Margi-tribe, living in the region Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
According to some books these pieces weren't used for throwing as the forging technique makes them too heavy. These are more uses as tools, dance knives or handheld weapons.

Total length : 70 cm.

The two added pieces measure 19 and 17 cm.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2530.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2532.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2531.jpg

Nice. It would not hurt to show the other bits? :cool:

Come on Freddy......lets see the rest of the 'scrap' :p

Here comes the scrap metal
 

First : a three-headed Lobi snake (fetish ?)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2533.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2535.jpg


A rattle (I'm not sure of the origin). It has a metal ball in each 'bulb'.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2540.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2541.jpg

More metal
 

4 Lobi snakes (with this kind of bracelet, your girlfriend won't go far) :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2544.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2546.jpg


And finally the mystery object. I have no clue where this one comes from, but it beautifully forged.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2536.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...elding2537.jpg

You did well. I realise it is not most peoples taste but I think they are very nice things. I particularly like the last piece which looks like some kind of forearm/wrist jewellery. I do not think it is a weapon although one could see the snakes head extending beyond a fisted hand. I would rather be poked in the eye with a burnt stick than a iron snake head. :shrug: :cool: they are all a little spooky which I like. :eek: