Strange knife/axe from Congo

Congoblades · 16th August 2006, 11:37 AM

Hi, I'm new on this intresting forum. I’m looking for more information about two knives/axe’s, they where collected in Congo early 1900. I can’t find any info about this type of weapon.

Flavio · 16th August 2006, 12:05 PM

Hello Congoblades, welcome to the forum!!! These are very strange!!! I never see somethings like these before!!!!!

katana · 16th August 2006, 01:09 PM

Hi Congoblades, very functional looking.......but I've never seen this design before.....congrats

Congoblades · 16th August 2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katana

Hi Congoblades, very functional looking.......but I've never seen this design before.....congrats

Thanks, very functional indeed... to crush some skulls...
I searched the web and some books for many hours, couldn'n find anything that looks close.

Freddy · 16th August 2006, 06:08 PM

Hi Congoblades, welcome to the forum. Where are you from ? Perhaps we already know each other.

I already saw a similar African weapon. It took some time to find it again, but look at this one :

http://www.mambele.be/knife_detail.p...=0500&rowno=88

That's the one, no ?

By the way, this is a very nice website if you're into African weapons.

Freddy

katana · 16th August 2006, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

http://www.mambele.be/knife_detail.p...=0500&rowno=88

The knife is catergorised as a throwing knife.....to me....I would have thought that the handle would be unnecessary.....so perhaps wrongly described??

Also the 'arc' of the blade is 're-inforced' with a 'cross-piece', which suggests that it requires more strength, as would be needed in combat. I don't think a throwing knife would need the bracing.....unless it is to balance and aid the flight of the knife , if thrown.

Tim Simmons · 16th August 2006, 06:39 PM

What a super thing. You can see that it has been a struggle to mantain heat and make this weapon. I wish it were mine.

The Double D · 16th August 2006, 06:53 PM

Is the inside arc of the blade sharp?

Freddy · 16th August 2006, 06:59 PM

Not all weapons which are put in the category 'Throwing knife' are actual throwing knives. A lot of these weapons, especially those with wood or even ivory handles, evolved into status symbols.
They weren't actually used for throwing.

A real throwing knife will have a handle made of a material that can't be damaged when thrown, for example leather, hide or even cloth.

Here are two examples :

The first one is a typical Ngbaka/Ngombe throwing knife. This weapon is called : ZA.
The handle is made of animal skin (some of the hair is still there).

The other throwing knife is from the Zulgo tribe inb East-Sudan. It's handle is made of a piece of cloth tied to the metal with some cord.

Congoblades · 16th August 2006, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

Hi Congoblades, welcome to the forum. Where are you from ? Perhaps we already know each other.

I'm from Erpe, don't think we know each other, there is an other collector in my neiberhood who you might know, J.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

I already saw a similar African weapon. It took some time to find it again, but look at this one :

That's the one, no ?

By the way, this is a very nice website if you're into African weapons.

Freddy

Yep, that's the one, I visited this website also, I didn't see it

Thanks.

Congoblades · 16th August 2006, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Double D

Is the inside arc of the blade sharp?

Yes, the side of the main blade, this is sharp both sides.

Luc LEFEBVRE · 18th August 2006, 11:45 PM

Very nice and rare Ngombe TK, congratulations !
Some other Ngombe TK:
http://lulef.free.fr/html/ngbaya_1.html
Luc

Freddy · 19th August 2006, 08:17 AM

Do you notice the similarity in decoration on the throwing knife shown by congoblades and that shown by Luc ? They both have engraved triangles.

Congoblades · 19th August 2006, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luc LEFEBVRE

Very nice and rare Ngombe TK, congratulations !
Some other Ngombe TK:
http://lulef.free.fr/html/ngbaya_1.html
Luc

I have seen them before

beautyfull T knives... and the rest ofcourse...
Intresting knives on Ngombe2, I have one simular as picture 1 but with a different kind of handle, I will post it soon.
Greets

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddy

Do you notice the similarity in decoration on the throwing knife shown by congoblades and that shown by Luc ? They both have engraved triangles.

Freddy, You must be right, most of my items are from the same "region" I have more knives with simular decoratian, triangles...

Mapico1 · 19th August 2006, 07:52 PM

Hi,I know in the Guido Poppe collection this is called Ngombe but to me the handles look like Yakoma,also the design with dots looks typical Yakoma.
The Yakoma's are situated also in the North of Congo to the right of the Ngombe and Sango.Also the quality of the iron looks Yakoma....
Danny

Luc LEFEBVRE · 20th August 2006, 10:35 PM

The area of production of this kind of TK regroups the Gbaya-Ngbaka, the Ngbandi, the Ngombe and the Mbanja.
The Ngbandi include the Sango and the Yakoma.
And the Mbanja are known to have excellent blacksmith who works for the Ngbandi and the Ngbaka.
And the Yakoma are known for their works (forging) for the Ngbaka.
Nothing is simple in Africa...

So Danny is right

the handle looks like a Yakoma one.
http://lulef.free.fr/html/yakoma.html
or Sango
http://lulef.free.fr/html/sango.html

And Freddy see the triangle engravings on the blade, a characteristic of the Ngbaka, and the dots of the Yakoma.
So it seems to be a good mix !
In fact I'm not convinced that it's a throwing knife, they never have a handle made of wood (fragile).
Luc

16th August 2006, 11:37 AM	#1
Congoblades Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belgium Posts: 171	Strange knife/axe from Congo Hi, I'm new on this intresting forum. I’m looking for more information about two knives/axe’s, they where collected in Congo early 1900. I can’t find any info about this type of weapon. Attached Images

18th August 2006, 11:45 PM	#12
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Great Very nice and rare Ngombe TK, congratulations ! Some other Ngombe TK: http://lulef.free.fr/html/ngbaya_1.html Luc

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16th August 2006, 12:05 PM	#2
Flavio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Italia Posts: 1,243	Hello Congoblades, welcome to the forum!!! These are very strange!!! I never see somethings like these before!!!!!

16th August 2006, 01:09 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Congoblades, very functional looking.......but I've never seen this design before.....congrats

16th August 2006, 06:08 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Hi Congoblades, welcome to the forum. Where are you from ? Perhaps we already know each other. I already saw a similar African weapon. It took some time to find it again, but look at this one : http://www.mambele.be/knife_detail.p...=0500&rowno=88 That's the one, no ? By the way, this is a very nice website if you're into African weapons. Freddy

16th August 2006, 06:39 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	What a super thing. You can see that it has been a struggle to mantain heat and make this weapon. I wish it were mine.

16th August 2006, 06:53 PM	#8
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	Is the inside arc of the blade sharp?

16th August 2006, 06:59 PM	#9
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Not all weapons which are put in the category 'Throwing knife' are actual throwing knives. A lot of these weapons, especially those with wood or even ivory handles, evolved into status symbols. They weren't actually used for throwing. A real throwing knife will have a handle made of a material that can't be damaged when thrown, for example leather, hide or even cloth. Here are two examples : The first one is a typical Ngbaka/Ngombe throwing knife. This weapon is called : ZA. The handle is made of animal skin (some of the hair is still there). The other throwing knife is from the Zulgo tribe inb East-Sudan. It's handle is made of a piece of cloth tied to the metal with some cord.

19th August 2006, 08:17 AM	#13
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Do you notice the similarity in decoration on the throwing knife shown by congoblades and that shown by Luc ? They both have engraved triangles.

19th August 2006, 07:52 PM	#15
Mapico1 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86	Hi,I know in the Guido Poppe collection this is called Ngombe but to me the handles look like Yakoma,also the design with dots looks typical Yakoma. The Yakoma's are situated also in the North of Congo to the right of the Ngombe and Sango.Also the quality of the iron looks Yakoma.... Danny

20th August 2006, 10:35 PM	#16
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	The area of production of this kind of TK regroups the Gbaya-Ngbaka, the Ngbandi, the Ngombe and the Mbanja. The Ngbandi include the Sango and the Yakoma. And the Mbanja are known to have excellent blacksmith who works for the Ngbandi and the Ngbaka. And the Yakoma are known for their works (forging) for the Ngbaka. Nothing is simple in Africa... So Danny is right the handle looks like a Yakoma one. http://lulef.free.fr/html/yakoma.html or Sango http://lulef.free.fr/html/sango.html And Freddy see the triangle engravings on the blade, a characteristic of the Ngbaka, and the dots of the Yakoma. So it seems to be a good mix ! In fact I'm not convinced that it's a throwing knife, they never have a handle made of wood (fragile). Luc