African Spear

[Ed]

Originally Posted by Peter B.

Hello Ed,

can we see a larger photo of the blade and shaft connection?
Can you tell if it is welded or forged?
To me this doesn't necessarily look like a tourist piece, especially because of the length, which is inconvenient for tourists.

Best regards
Peter

It looks forged to me. Note that the margins of the head are not deformed. If welding level heat were applied the margins, being very thin, would have melted or been deformed.

Thoughts?

[Peter B.]

Originally Posted by Ed

It looks forged to me. Note that the margins of the head are not deformed. If welding level heat were applied the margins, being very thin, would have melted or been deformed.

Thoughts?

It looks as if the two parts were made individually until the end and then forged together.
The filing marks don't look like power tools either.
A slightly older age can therefore not be ruled out.
Are there any metalworking experts here?

By the way, based on the shape of the blade, I would suspect that it is of Turkana origin rather than Maasai or Samburu.

[Ed]

It looked "older" to me. If artisans over there sell their goods to warriors and tourists then I don't see how a distinction can be made between the two. It is sorta like a Beretta 92 vs. an M9.

This is an interesting piece and is ensconced next to my Lion spear.

[Sajen]

I personally go by these spears and the so-called lion spears simply by the patination of the wooden part when it comes to age, the colour and shiny patina doesn't lie.
Here a somewhat blurry pic of the wooden part of a lion spear I have here at the moment.