![]() |
![]() |
#1 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 93
|
![]()
I've seen a few mentions of these on the web as being Turkana foot knives. But the style of decoration doesn't look particularly Turkana to me. In fact I'd be happier accepting an origin of Southeast Asia, or even Birmingham.
And ... foot knives? Why not worn on the hand as knuckledusters, or tools for scraping the white stuff out of coconuts, or scraping bark off rubber trees ? Does anybody know of any evidence linking them to East Africa, and being used as weapons worn on the feet? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
|
![]()
I believe this to be an archer's aid for drawing a bowstring. Not sure if it was to protect the fingers from the string, or for use on the other arm, as a bracer. From West Africa.
There are also slightly similar iron objects, with a loop for the hand, but with a knife blade made integral to the piece of equipment. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Belgium
Posts: 171
|
![]()
I have never seen anything like that in any african collection or musea.
Foot knives ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Arms Historian
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
Posts: 9,894
|
![]()
Trusty Google, reveals these not that unusual, and found one on a dealers website. Apparantly the Turkana tribes situated in Kenya are fond of having edged weapons as worn accoutrements on their wrists, fingers and feet.
The ringed finger knives and circular wrist knives are more well known. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
|
![]()
From the book "Ata Epe - Bogen und Pfeile Afrikas" by Hendrik Wiethase 2007. Not a "Turkana foot knife"...
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Belgium
Posts: 171
|
![]() Quote:
The ornate arsenals of the Turkana include a relatively wide variety of weapons. Until the advent of modern firearms, traditional Turkana men used to carry spears (akwara) with a small narrow blade, a fighting stick or knobkerrie (aselej or esebo) and a narrow shield (aupwal) made out of the hide of either a giraffe or buffalo. For close combat fighting they wore a circular wrist knife (abarait) and one or two finger knives (egolu) and finger hooks (ecorogat) which were designed to gouge out an enemy’s eyes. http://www.sslmit.units.it/crevatin/...0CONFLICTS.htm |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Belgium
Posts: 171
|
![]()
Not fast enough
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 | |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Olomouc
Posts: 1,693
|
![]() Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
|
![]()
So, what is it?
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,726
|
![]() Quote:
can you try to take a picture from the text? I will translate it. Regards, Detlef |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 93
|
![]()
Many thanks for the quick replies and for posting the photo of the book: it shows the strengths of this knowledgable community !
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,726
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 1,725
|
![]()
Thanks, Sajen. Does the rest of the German text describe how it is utilized?
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,726
|
![]() Quote:
Regards, Detlef |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 | |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
|
![]() Quote:
Here are close-ups of the text. Regards |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#16 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany, Dortmund
Posts: 8,726
|
![]() Quote:
thank's! ![]() Here at first the translation of the left page: By this Haussa shooter it's good to recognize the thumb-ring. The bowstring position let allude to a simple ring without appendix. Right page: This clamps has been ornate worked utensils of the shooters and it need some practice to effect a selective shot with it. The more simple examples as well as the wooden ones has been common at the coast, the more complex worked ones are to be found along the inner of the mainland. D= Clamp of the Vere and Mumuye, Nigeria, 55 cm, still to recognize the position where has been attached a tail end. E,F= Tiff and Kanga clamps ("Banda"), approx. 16 cm long. Sorry, no further explanation how they has been utilized but when you know that 16 cm are 6,3 inch and you look to the picture I think it become clear how the were utilized, the ring is for the thumb and I think that the arrow rest on the "edge" while the bowstring was strain at the end of the curl of the clamp. At least is this my understanding of this tool/clamp. Maybe Colin can see it more clear on the picture. ![]() Very nice catch btw. ![]() Regards, Detlef |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
(deceased)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: OKLAHOMA, USA
Posts: 3,138
|
![]()
PERHAPS USED SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|