Some Zulu? spears and a knobkerrie.

Norman McCormick · 17th February 2021, 06:16 PM

Hi Colin,
Thanks for the information. I remember, I think, reading somewhere that the bigger wider blades tend to be older whether this is true or not I don't know.
My Regards,
Norman.

Hi Sajen,
Thanks for your interest.
My Regards,
Norman.

kronckew · 17th February 2021, 10:36 PM

My three Ik'lwa and an Iwisa.

Note that the Zulu took tribute from the tribes they conquered, including having them make their weapons, so they do vary a bit.

The Iwisa (knobkerry in Boer Dutch) were frequently dished, when stored leaning on a wall the dish would have a lump of fat in it to melt and keep the ball head from splitting. Some larger ones had a 2nd dished bit opposite the first and they'd alternate which was up and greased.

Zulu throwing spears had more slender shafts, shorter blades and long tangs protruding from the sockets, the Ik'lwa ('assegai' is european) tangs were almost fully hidden by their sockets. Zulu did make their own iron and brass/copper wire before the Europeans. The common soldiers got the ones with cow tail sleeves, braided wire and thongs were for higher ranks. spear and ik'lwa blades almost invariably had a distinctive 'pinch' or notch mark bboth sides where the blade joins the tang. (Bottom)

scotchleaf · 22nd April 2021, 07:57 PM

On mine, I've noticed the point of balance is perfectly positioned to allow one to carry the spear all day.

The forefinger is positioned to guide the weapon's tip and the "grip fingers" lie just behind a ridge to prevent the hand from slipping up the blade.

ariel · 23rd April 2021, 07:32 PM

The story goes that it was Chaka who “ invented” Iklwa. Perhaps, it is really true. But Iklwa was only an instrument of his real invention: instead of ineffectual and largely symbolic exchange of throwing spears at a respectable distance, he demanded close combat with the intent to kill. Realistically, Iklwas and old throwing spears were equally deadly: no matter where at the torso you stick your blade , at the depth of 2-3 inches you hit a vital organ. Iklwa with its oversized blade became more frightening and killed right away instead of in 5 minutes.
But the important novelty was his re-tooling his army: instead of ritualistic line-to-line hour long throwing spears back and forth he invented concepts of the center and surrounding flanks with close contact and with annihilation of the enemy on site. Iklwa was no longer a spear: it became kind of a sword with long handle, akin to Indian Bhuj or Yakut Batyjya. Hand-to-hand weapon instead of line-to- line.
Chaka was like Genghiz Khan, who reinvented his army on the principles of speed, tight control by the leader, feints and slaighter.
There is a book by a Russian emigree Michael Prawdin , who lived in Germany and published a book there about Mongol Empire in 1938 ( highly recommended!!!). It became a standard reading by the German General Staff. Apparently, Guderian took these principles into his concept of mobile tank warfare instead of a static one during WWI.

Good ideas never die.

fernando · 23rd April 2021, 08:12 PM

Well built synopsis indeed, Ariel

kronckew · 26th April 2021, 06:09 PM

I think of it like Shaka 'Romanized' his infantry. Genghis Khan and the mongols were more cavalry oriented, tactics and weapons were different to infantry ones.

Shaka led a highly mobile Infantry regimental system, made use of the shield wall and short stabbing weapons of the Romans. European use of cavalry took advantage of a weakness Rome had, when they took warfare to the Parthians, they had few long range missile weapons, and horse archers massacred the Romans. It took 60 years for Rome to evolve with more missile weapons, archers and slingers, and plumbata to supplement the short range heavy Pilum, and with increased cavalry, they then massacred the Parthians. (The Mongols massacred them later on too.)

Shaka's 'Empire' was too small to support a real Legionary armament infrastructure, and no cavalry or artillery, or siege warfare traditions of any kind. The Brits didn't leave them alone long enough to develop (or pay for) any.

drac2k · 26th April 2021, 08:56 PM

I was wondering about the second spear from the left; I have one and soon I'll add another one. The configuration was the same as the Zulu throwing spear, however, it is much too short; about the length of the stabbing spear. I don't think that it has been cut down because the shaft is too small, it is in proportion to the spearhead and as mentioned, I now have seen 3 of these.
Were these used by women, young boys, or for ceremonial purposes?

17th February 2021, 10:36 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	My three Ik'lwa and an Iwisa. Note that the Zulu took tribute from the tribes they conquered, including having them make their weapons, so they do vary a bit. The Iwisa (knobkerry in Boer Dutch) were frequently dished, when stored leaning on a wall the dish would have a lump of fat in it to melt and keep the ball head from splitting. Some larger ones had a 2nd dished bit opposite the first and they'd alternate which was up and greased. Zulu throwing spears had more slender shafts, shorter blades and long tangs protruding from the sockets, the Ik'lwa ('assegai' is european) tangs were almost fully hidden by their sockets. Zulu did make their own iron and brass/copper wire before the Europeans. The common soldiers got the ones with cow tail sleeves, braided wire and thongs were for higher ranks. spear and ik'lwa blades almost invariably had a distinctive 'pinch' or notch mark bboth sides where the blade joins the tang. (Bottom) Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 17th February 2021 at 10:54 PM.

22nd April 2021, 07:57 PM	#3
scotchleaf Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 21	Mind indicating where the Iklwa's points of balance are? On mine, I've noticed the point of balance is perfectly positioned to allow one to carry the spear all day. The forefinger is positioned to guide the weapon's tip and the "grip fingers" lie just behind a ridge to prevent the hand from slipping up the blade.

17th February 2021, 06:16 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,613	Hi Colin, Thanks for the information. I remember, I think, reading somewhere that the bigger wider blades tend to be older whether this is true or not I don't know. My Regards, Norman. Hi Sajen, Thanks for your interest. My Regards, Norman.

23rd April 2021, 07:32 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The story goes that it was Chaka who “ invented” Iklwa. Perhaps, it is really true. But Iklwa was only an instrument of his real invention: instead of ineffectual and largely symbolic exchange of throwing spears at a respectable distance, he demanded close combat with the intent to kill. Realistically, Iklwas and old throwing spears were equally deadly: no matter where at the torso you stick your blade , at the depth of 2-3 inches you hit a vital organ. Iklwa with its oversized blade became more frightening and killed right away instead of in 5 minutes. But the important novelty was his re-tooling his army: instead of ritualistic line-to-line hour long throwing spears back and forth he invented concepts of the center and surrounding flanks with close contact and with annihilation of the enemy on site. Iklwa was no longer a spear: it became kind of a sword with long handle, akin to Indian Bhuj or Yakut Batyjya. Hand-to-hand weapon instead of line-to- line. Chaka was like Genghiz Khan, who reinvented his army on the principles of speed, tight control by the leader, feints and slaighter. There is a book by a Russian emigree Michael Prawdin , who lived in Germany and published a book there about Mongol Empire in 1938 ( highly recommended!!!). It became a standard reading by the German General Staff. Apparently, Guderian took these principles into his concept of mobile tank warfare instead of a static one during WWI. Good ideas never die.

23rd April 2021, 08:12 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Well built synopsis indeed, Ariel

26th April 2021, 06:09 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	I think of it like Shaka 'Romanized' his infantry. Genghis Khan and the mongols were more cavalry oriented, tactics and weapons were different to infantry ones. Shaka led a highly mobile Infantry regimental system, made use of the shield wall and short stabbing weapons of the Romans. European use of cavalry took advantage of a weakness Rome had, when they took warfare to the Parthians, they had few long range missile weapons, and horse archers massacred the Romans. It took 60 years for Rome to evolve with more missile weapons, archers and slingers, and plumbata to supplement the short range heavy Pilum, and with increased cavalry, they then massacred the Parthians. (The Mongols massacred them later on too.) Shaka's 'Empire' was too small to support a real Legionary armament infrastructure, and no cavalry or artillery, or siege warfare traditions of any kind. The Brits didn't leave them alone long enough to develop (or pay for) any.

26th April 2021, 08:56 PM	#7
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,255	I was wondering about the second spear from the left; I have one and soon I'll add another one. The configuration was the same as the Zulu throwing spear, however, it is much too short; about the length of the stabbing spear. I don't think that it has been cut down because the shaft is too small, it is in proportion to the spearhead and as mentioned, I now have seen 3 of these. Were these used by women, young boys, or for ceremonial purposes?