African spear ID help

Araña_del_Sol · 25th August 2022, 01:03 AM

Hi all,

I got this spear a while back but was never sure where it came from though it always struck me as being Sudanese mainly due to the crocodile skin "sleeves" on either end of the shaft. It is fairly small with total length of 88.9 cm (35 inches). Any help identifying its place of origin and/or ethnic attributions would be appreciated.

- ADS

Lee · 25th August 2022, 02:02 AM

Perhaps a Swazi or Zulu Iklwa (Assegai) Stabbing Spear from southern Africa?

Araña_del_Sol · 25th August 2022, 02:52 AM

Hi Lee,

Thanks for your response, it is definitely in the size range for an iklwa but this spear has a socketed spearhead whereas southern African spears tended to have tanged spearheads so I'm thinking it comes from further north.

- ADS

drac2k · 25th August 2022, 05:05 AM

Even though it looks like a Zulu spear, are you sure? This spear has a socket head and doesn't a Zulu spearhead usually, have a tang that is inserted into the wooden shaft?

Tim Simmons · 25th August 2022, 12:11 PM

With the Croc skin it is most probably from Sudanese regions. Also it appears to have lost the metal butt end.

Araña_del_Sol · 26th August 2022, 01:25 AM

Hi Tim, thanks for your response I also got the impression that it is Sudanese, interesting to consider that it it had a metal butt. Wonder what it looked like?

- ADS

25th August 2022, 01:03 AM	#1
Araña_del_Sol Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 46	African spear ID help Hi all, I got this spear a while back but was never sure where it came from though it always struck me as being Sudanese mainly due to the crocodile skin "sleeves" on either end of the shaft. It is fairly small with total length of 88.9 cm (35 inches). Any help identifying its place of origin and/or ethnic attributions would be appreciated. - ADS Attached Images

25th August 2022, 02:02 AM	#2
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 913	Perhaps a Swazi or Zulu Iklwa (Assegai) Stabbing Spear from southern Africa?

25th August 2022, 02:52 AM	#3
Araña_del_Sol Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 46	Hi Lee, Thanks for your response, it is definitely in the size range for an iklwa but this spear has a socketed spearhead whereas southern African spears tended to have tanged spearheads so I'm thinking it comes from further north. - ADS

25th August 2022, 05:05 AM	#4
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,229	Even though it looks like a Zulu spear, are you sure? This spear has a socket head and doesn't a Zulu spearhead usually, have a tang that is inserted into the wooden shaft?

25th August 2022, 12:11 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	With the Croc skin it is most probably from Sudanese regions. Also it appears to have lost the metal butt end.

26th August 2022, 01:25 AM	#6
Araña_del_Sol Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 46	Hi Tim, thanks for your response I also got the impression that it is Sudanese, interesting to consider that it it had a metal butt. Wonder what it looked like? - ADS