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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium)
Posts: 830
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This is something I picked up yesterday.
First look at the handle. It's made of wood, partially covered with iron band, some nails. Part of this handle also has a braided cord covering. ![]() And now the rest of this piece ! It has a spearblade which can be attributed to the following tribes : Lokele, So, Topeke. But instead of mounting this blade as a spear, it's mounted as a sword. Total length : 71 cm. And a very heavy piece. In the second book of Zirngibl (Seltene Afrikanische Waffen - Rare African Weapons) two similar weapons are shown on page 40. ![]() ![]() ![]() Some time ago, I showed two separate Lokele spear blades. Here is the pic again : ![]() |
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#2 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: France
Posts: 472
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A spear point transformed in sword, I think it's clear enough.
Luc |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,769
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Nice find. I would think it was used mainly as a dance thing as all the spears of that form I have handled do not strike my as the most warlike. I am sure it would make a very efficient weapon when the need arose.
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#4 | |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Italia
Posts: 1,243
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Hi all! A very nice sword Freddy! I have an italian book (if i'm right) that shows a sword like this one also with rattan scabbard. I'm sorry but for the moment i can't post pictures, i will do in the next weeks! |
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#5 |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 7
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this looks like it would be a sword but could havebeen a spear right.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium)
Posts: 830
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Flavio, I would like to see that picture.
In the mean time, here's the picture shown in the second boor of Zirngibl. These two are definitively converted spear blades. Look at the one on the left. It's handle is very similar to the handle on my piece. Zirngible identifies these pieces as : Lokele (length : 74 and 73 cm) ![]() |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium)
Posts: 830
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In Zirngibl's first book, Afrikanische Waffen (1978, p 76), there's also a picture of a converted spearhead. This one comes from the Bambuti (Mbuti), a pygmy-tribe.
The author writes this : The pygmies don't work with metal. Instead, they acquire their knives and spearheads by trading bagged quary for them. The knife shown is typical. The handle is attached to the shaft of what was likely a spearhead. Length of this dagger : 31 cm. ![]() |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: What is still UK
Posts: 5,769
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Is the handle woven cordage {string}? It looks very nicely done. I think it is a super thing, I can imagine it in my hand. Alas it is in yours
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#9 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Posts: 1,254
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These type swords are often thought to be remade spear blades, but close examination usually yields no specific signs of such; ie the tang visibly converted from a socket, while many African tribes have swords and spears of similar blades; most to mind is the seme and the Massai "lion" spear. There is a spear in a shop here in Houston(for too much money for me) that has a distinctive blade usually only seen (in US) as a sword; Salampasu, I think; a sort of Etruscan looking thing.....
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#10 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Italia
Posts: 1,243
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Freddy, sorry for the delay!!!! I had forgotten this thread
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#11 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 13
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Somewhere I read that warriors were not allowed to carry their spears into European settled cities in Africa, so they cut off the shafts and carried them as swords or knives instead. Many of those I have seen have thin, solid tangs like swords and not like converted spears. Does anyone have one that has a socketed tang?
Good collecting to everyone in the new year! John |
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