Throwing Knife for French and Belgian fans

Luc LEFEBVRE · 13th October 2006, 12:14 PM

Nice KIPINGA Tim !
It is one of the great form of African TK, now you have one.
It's true all the TK are expensive but fascinating.
Here is mine:
http://lulef.free.fr/html/zande.html

Luc

Tim Simmons · 13th October 2006, 04:46 PM

Thanks for the advice. Since this most probably had a simple handle that may have rotted away years ago I shall just leave it as is. I have put it in the hallway with other things that are less obviously frightening to visitors.

Freddy · 13th October 2006, 05:26 PM

Nice display, Tim.

I like the sword/knife blade with the many curves. Where did you find this one ?

In my opinion, it's a Luba blade.

Tim Simmons · 13th October 2006, 05:37 PM

Thank you Freddy. Apparently there is only one other known example in a collection. I am not swinging from the lamp shade just on one books say so but I am rather glad to know I have a very rare piece. I got it in a junk shop. It was just on the flour all rusty. I paid the price of a curry and two pints of beer. Not bad

.

Freddy · 13th October 2006, 07:52 PM

Sorry, Tim. Apparently, I was wrong in attributing this knife to the Luba.

In 'Rare African Short Weapons' by Manfred A. Zirngibl (1983) I found a picture of a sword almost identical to yours. Based on the handle, the author attributes this sword to the Medje or Makere. The length is 48 cm.

This is what he writes :

This knife with its highly original blade shaped like a snake comes from the Zande or Mangbetu region. Although various museum records as well as several design characteristics such as the engravings on the blade and the relatively heavy-looking ivory handle indicate that it is a Medje or Makere product, it is not possible to classify the piece accurately
All that is certain however is that the knife - based on the shape of its blade - could not have functioned as a weapon. In spite of the sharp cutting edges, it could only have been used as a cult or ornamental knife.

Does your knife blade has any engravings ?

Tim Simmons · 13th October 2006, 08:07 PM

Freddy, my blade has the very same engraving. pictures can be seen on this thread. i am surprised that you missed it

.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2266

Freddy · 13th October 2006, 08:24 PM

I must have been looking for 'goodies' that day, because I missed that thread.

13th October 2006, 04:46 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Thanks for the advice. Since this most probably had a simple handle that may have rotted away years ago I shall just leave it as is. I have put it in the hallway with other things that are less obviously frightening to visitors. Attached Images

13th October 2006, 07:52 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	a mistake Sorry, Tim. Apparently, I was wrong in attributing this knife to the Luba. In 'Rare African Short Weapons' by Manfred A. Zirngibl (1983) I found a picture of a sword almost identical to yours. Based on the handle, the author attributes this sword to the Medje or Makere. The length is 48 cm. This is what he writes : This knife with its highly original blade shaped like a snake comes from the Zande or Mangbetu region. Although various museum records as well as several design characteristics such as the engravings on the blade and the relatively heavy-looking ivory handle indicate that it is a Medje or Makere product, it is not possible to classify the piece accurately All that is certain however is that the knife - based on the shape of its blade - could not have functioned as a weapon. In spite of the sharp cutting edges, it could only have been used as a cult or ornamental knife. Does your knife blade has any engravings ?

13th October 2006, 12:14 PM	#1
Luc LEFEBVRE Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: France Posts: 473	Nice KIPINGA Tim ! It is one of the great form of African TK, now you have one. It's true all the TK are expensive but fascinating. Here is mine: http://lulef.free.fr/html/zande.html Luc

13th October 2006, 05:26 PM	#3
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Nice display, Tim. I like the sword/knife blade with the many curves. Where did you find this one ? In my opinion, it's a Luba blade.

13th October 2006, 05:37 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Thank you Freddy. Apparently there is only one other known example in a collection. I am not swinging from the lamp shade just on one books say so but I am rather glad to know I have a very rare piece. I got it in a junk shop. It was just on the flour all rusty. I paid the price of a curry and two pints of beer. Not bad .

13th October 2006, 08:07 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Freddy, my blade has the very same engraving. pictures can be seen on this thread. i am surprised that you missed it . http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2266

13th October 2006, 08:24 PM	#7
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I must have been looking for 'goodies' that day, because I missed that thread.