african spear

[fernando]

Hello, please help.
I have just bought this spear, without any kind of classification. I assumed it is african, and tryed to associate it to the examples shown in some comercial web pages. I saw a couple Zulu assegais looking somehow familiar, but there is something with the dimensions of my piece, specially the blade, that doesn't fit with such weaponry.
This blade is 7/8" wide and is only 3 1/2" long, even shorter than its 3 3/4" tang. The ferrule has 2" and is woven with iron wire.
Could this be in fact an war weapon? or should it serve other purpose?
Any coments on its identification and age would be so much wellcome.

[Ian]

Fernando:

Spears are tricky, especially when there is not an overall view. How long it is, what materials it is made from (especially the shaft), how the shaft is attached to the business end, the shape of the spear blade, etc. can all be clues to its origin.

Do you have any particular reason to think this one is African? The blade looks fairly simple and could come from a number of different parts of the world. Looking at the way the shaft is attached to the point, there appears to be some binding with woven fibers. That might suggest an Asian origin. In looking at the particular weave on your example, it reminds me of Naga work which is quite different from, say, Burmese/Thai rattan work or examples from the Dayak (Borneo) or Ifugao (Philippines).

More pictures of your spear would definitely help.

Ian.

[Lew]

Hi fernando

Your spear is African either Zulu or Shona but I think more Zulu. It is a throwing spear (isiJula (plural: iziJula) – short-bladed throwing spear, used in battle. rather than an assegai or stabbing spear. The braided collar is a dead giveaway.


Lew

[fernando]

Thank you all.
Any chance this piece is from the 19th century?
Lew, do you mean the braided collar is only ornamental?
I thaught it was there for securing the shaft to the blade.
Doesn't assegai mean a throwing spear ? Are there differences in tipology?

[Freddy]

You're quite right. The braided collar is for securing the blade to the shaft. A South African spear blade has a tang which goes into the shaft. The collar prevents the wood from splitting. Besides being practical, I think it also enhances the beauty of the weapon.

Your spear seems to be a good old specimen. On newer spears (and also on axes) the collar is often made of braided electrical wire. Not that these are no good, but they are younger.

Your spear is a throwing spear, as was already mentioned. That's probably why it has such a light blade. I had a look around on the internet and the word 'assegai' was mostly used for a stabbing spear. These had larger heads and were heavier.

[Tim Simmons]

Hi fernado, these southern African/Zulu type spears the binding can be steel or brass wire, vegetal fibre or a dried leather/gut shrink fit method of helping to hold the blade. The true early stabbing assegai of the Zulu wars had a large blade and quite a stout haft. There are latter 19/20th cent stabbing spears with a smaller blade. There is a good chance your spear is 19th cent. This may sound silly but if it has a thin haft and feels like you could throw it then it probably is a throwing spear Here are pictures of one I have. These are said to have be carried as a small bundle and thrown before engaging with a stabbing spear. I find it fascinating that warriors armed with these and other simple weapons gave the British army, one of the most modern in 19th cent, a jolly good hiding more than once . Tim

[Freddy]

Here is the braided collar of a Swazi axe.

[Tim Simmons]

Typical South African spear, could have come from many tribal groups. Tim