Not a Zulu assegai - so what is it?

Battara · 31st October 2016, 07:42 PM

Greetings folks,

A friend took this picture in Ripley's Believe or Not Museum. It is attributed to the Zulu as the stabbing spear, assegai, that they used. However, I have seen assegai's used for stabbing and this is not it (if I am wrong, please correct me). To me the shape of the shaft is all wrong as well as the length and shape of the spear head.

So what African tribe and what type of spear is it?

Many thanks in advance.

Tim Simmons · 31st October 2016, 08:30 PM

Not typically Zulu much further north , Shonaland and possibly even further north.

kronckew · 31st October 2016, 09:26 PM

everything is wrong, the short head, the long exposed & ring embellished tang, the lack of the zulu 'pinch at the head/tang transition, the (wrong) wood haft is not tapered from the tang joint to the hilt end, no flare. and the carving of the serpent is atypical. central africa ceremonial item, ie. 'fantasy' or for those who travel.

in the words of the immortal expert, mik 'crocodile' dundee,
"that's not an iklwa, THIS is an iklwa!"

Jim McDougall · 31st October 2016, 09:40 PM

What is immortal Wayne, is your classic humor!!!

You and Mel Brooks!
Rock on!!! and thank you for the chuckles!

Battara · 1st November 2016, 03:16 AM

Kronckew thank you for the picture - this is the iklwa I was trying to describe to my friend.

Thank you everyone else. Not my area so I wanted to know where it came from.

I will show this thread to my friend.

kronckew · 1st November 2016, 09:15 AM

lots of other info available on zulu arms and the zulu wars here on the forum (via search).

Rick · 1st November 2016, 03:46 PM

So, in Ripley's Believe it or not museum I guess this must fall under the 'not' category.

I'm struck by the resemblance of this spearhead to a pair of shears.

Battara · 1st November 2016, 04:40 PM

Oh yeah. I've had to correct museums before.............

31st October 2016, 07:42 PM	#1
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Not a Zulu assegai - so what is it? Greetings folks, A friend took this picture in Ripley's Believe or Not Museum. It is attributed to the Zulu as the stabbing spear, assegai, that they used. However, I have seen assegai's used for stabbing and this is not it (if I am wrong, please correct me). To me the shape of the shaft is all wrong as well as the length and shape of the spear head. So what African tribe and what type of spear is it? Many thanks in advance. Attached Images

31st October 2016, 09:26 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	everything is wrong, the short head, the long exposed & ring embellished tang, the lack of the zulu 'pinch at the head/tang transition, the (wrong) wood haft is not tapered from the tang joint to the hilt end, no flare. and the carving of the serpent is atypical. central africa ceremonial item, ie. 'fantasy' or for those who travel. in the words of the immortal expert, mik 'crocodile' dundee, "that's not an iklwa, THIS is an iklwa!" Attached Images

31st October 2016, 08:30 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Not typically Zulu much further north , Shonaland and possibly even further north.

31st October 2016, 09:40 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,954	What is immortal Wayne, is your classic humor!!! You and Mel Brooks! Rock on!!! and thank you for the chuckles!

1st November 2016, 03:16 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Kronckew thank you for the picture - this is the iklwa I was trying to describe to my friend. Thank you everyone else. Not my area so I wanted to know where it came from. I will show this thread to my friend.

1st November 2016, 09:15 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	lots of other info available on zulu arms and the zulu wars here on the forum (via search).

1st November 2016, 03:46 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	So, in Ripley's Believe it or not museum I guess this must fall under the 'not' category. I'm struck by the resemblance of this spearhead to a pair of shears.

1st November 2016, 04:40 PM	#8
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,226	Oh yeah. I've had to correct museums before.............